Guidelines on electronic court filing (e-filing) and digitalisation of courts – perspective of the Council of Europe

Abstract

In December 2021, the Council of Europe adopted a document entitled “Guidelines on electronic court filing (e-filing) and digitalisation of courts”. The guidelines are based on the assumption that a new digital justice system should create a space that allows interaction and exchange of data and e-documents between the courts and their users (i.e. litigants, legal professionals, witnesses (experts) and/or other actors involved in court procedures). Such a concept requires a change involving not only the use of the latest technology to support the judicial system, but also a reflection on the legal, organisational and socio-cultural conditions that affect the functioning of the justice system. The guidelines will be presented in terms of the needs and possibilities of their implementation by the European governments. The guidelines of the Council of Europe and their possible adoption in the daily functioning of the judiciary are treated as a challenge to be met.