This call aims to establish 4-year Framework Partnership Agreements with European networks whose statutory aims are to facilitate and support judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters and/or access to justice for all. Within more analysis, in the area of civil matters, priority is given to activities in the areas of cross-border family law and successions, mediation, recognition of civil status, protection of vulnerable adults, cross-border enforcement of claims, insolvency, company law, minimum common standards of procedural law (including service of documents) and application of foreign law. Furthermore, priority will be also given to activities aimed at ensuring the correct implementation of the EU acquis in judicial cooperation in civil matters and the exchange of information and networking between legal, judicial and administrative authorities and the legal professions, aimed at promoting judicial cooperation across Europe, as well as through electronic channels of communication.

Moreover, the objective of the Call is also to increase capacity of national practitioners to secure access to justice and to respect the fundamental rights strengthening the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU. This call will support networks whose activities contribute to the implementation of the objectives of the Programme and which will implement among others: analytical, activities, training activities, mutual learning, cooperation, awareness-raising and dissemination activities with EU added value. Such activities are about to be carried out by the networks mentioned above, in the given period and must contribute to the understanding and the implementation of victims’ rights and on procedural rights of suspected and accused persons. Specifically, in the field of victims’ rights, the activities to be carried out include, practical application of the relevant EU rules, notably the Victims ‘Rights Directive, as well as application of the EU rules related to compensation to victims and to increased protection of victims in cross-border cases (including victims of terrorism). Thus, the activities should focus on exchanging of best practice, including best methods of implementation of the EU rules and on mutual learning and the overall objective should be to foster the cooperation among the Member State and among the responsible national authorities (national experts) and the relevant practitioners who come into contact with victims (including police, prosecution, judicial authorities, lawyers and support services). In the field of procedural rights of suspected and accused persons activities of particular importance are those supporting the correct implementation of the Directive on the right of access to a lawyer and the Directives adopted in 2016. Moreover, the activities could cover practical aspects of the implementation process of all procedural rights directives and the two Commission recommendations. They should also, provide guidance, outline best practices, and they should foster the cooperation between Member States to improve the rights of defence. Activities could also cover pre-trial detention (in particular the use of alternatives to detention) and other areas in the field of procedural rights, such as the protection of vulnerable persons, the collection, transfer and use of evidence in cross-border proceedings, and remedies.

All activities shall, both at design and implementation stage, incorporate a gender equality perspective.

Depending on the number and quality of proposals, it is expected that between 13 and 15 framework partnerships will be signed.