On 11 September, in Brussels, at the European Parliament, the Minister of Justice, Alberto Costa, will present the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union in the area of Justice. The minister will speak before the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Commission of (JURI Commission), presenting the lines of work of the Council's Presidency, in the area of Justice, until the end of the year.

The presence of the Minister of Justice at this Commission follows his presence at the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE Committee), where he was on 17 July.

Among the themes that must now be discussed with MEPs are matters of electronic Justice («E-Justice») on a European scale, the simplification of company law, the end of bureaucratization in business affairs, mediation in civil and commercial matters, intellectual property and European negotiation rules in matters of family law and system of civil liability.

Within the programme of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union in the area of Justice, «E-Justice», mediation within the European Union and simplification of company law, as well as regulations on law applicable to divorce and alimony, when these involve citizens or residents of more than one country, are presented as priority working areas, just as the Roma I Regulation (law applicable to contractual civil liability).

During the next few weeks, the Minister of Justice, Alberto Costa, will still preside the first Council of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the European Union, to take place during the Portuguese Presidency, on 18 September (Brussels), and will meet with them during the informal meeting of ministers to be held on 1 and 2 October, at Pavilhão Atlântico.


Speech of Minister of Justice - European Parliament’s JURI Committee (pdf)