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A look into the crystal ball: What will EU justice policy look like in 2020? This is the theme of a Europe-wide debate the European Commission was launched yesterday. The starting point for the discussion is a package of five discussion papers presented by the Commission covering European civil, criminal and administrative law, as well as the rule of law and fundamental rights in the EU. These papers launch a debate on possible actions in EU justice policy in the years to come aimed at strengthening the foundations on which the European Union is built and completing the European area of justice in the interest of Europe's citizens and businesses. Among the ideas tabled are further steps to boost mutual trust in civil justice, reinforced procedural rights concerning the service of documents, as well as further use of optional European substantive law regimes and a new mechanism to facilitate the resolution of any future rule of law crisis in Member States.

Everyone interested can participate in the debate and help shape future justice policies. The Commission has launched a call for input which will be open until the end of 2013 with the possibility to send preliminary input by 11 November. The Commission's papers and the preliminary input will then be discussed at a European forum on the Future of EU Justice Policy on 21 – 22 November in Brussels (see programme in the Annex). Distinguished speakers include national ministers, members of the European Parliament, judges from the European Court of Justice and from national Supreme Courts, academics and leading representatives of the legal profession. The event is also open for journalists, who can register by sending an email to Joshua.Salsby@ec.europa.eu.

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