Call for Euro access

The European Constitution needs to give citizens direct access to the European Court of Justice, the Law Society said last week.

In comments on the convention on the future of Europe, the Society welcomed the creation of a European Constitution and much of what is contained in it - especially moves to make European decision- making in areas such as criminal and civil law more transparent and democratically accountable.

However, it expressed disappointment that the draft constitution does not go further in addressing issues of access to justice.

Chief executive Janet Paraskeva said: 'It is not enough to give European citizens rights, but then make it difficult to use them.'

The Society called for direct access to the court and improvements in the referral procedure in member states.

Meanwhile, the House of Commons' European scrutiny committee last week criticised proposals in the draft constitution which would transfer substantial power from national parliaments to the European Parliament in the field of criminal justice.

A report said harmonisation of criminal procedure should be limited to what is needed to secure mutual recognition of judgments and decisions, and that harmonisation should only be agreed unanimously, not through the qualified voting procedure.

The committee also said the proposal for a European public prosecutor is impractical and raises issues of democratic accountability.