UK lawyers have questioned moves by the umbrella body for Europe’s lawyers to support a common e-justice system spanning the EU.

At its meeting in Malaga last week, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) narrowly won support for its plan to assist with 18 e-justice projects proposed by the European Commission.

The projects include the development of cross-border online legal aid applications, payment orders and small-claims procedures, and the creation of Europe-wide databases of wills, criminal records and insolvencies.

The CCBE is also tendering to develop a European find-a-lawyer search function, and is midway through a project to create factsheets of defendants’ rights in each member state.

Hugh Mercer QC, the leader of the UK’s delegation at the meeting, said the ‘proliferation of project work’ had ‘significant cost implications’ for the CCBE, which had previously focused on policy rather than IT development.

The Republic of Ireland delegation said that CCBE support for an extensive programme of e-justice would receive a ‘frosty reception back home’. He said: ‘You are not preaching to the converted here, but to the unwilling. There will be extra costs and money could be lost if we move unduly quickly. It is the European Commission’s responsibility, not the CCBE’s, to ensure there are sufficient resources in member states to complete the projects.’

The France delegation said the CCBE ‘cannot passively observe and just respond to events’ as IT becomes central to legal services.