The new regulation on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation in the European Union: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue

Abstract

This paper analyses the new EU Regulation on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation and access to justice in civil, commercial, and criminal matters, adopted in December 2023. The main objective is to promote the use of digital channels for communication between the authorities involved in the different instruments of judicial cooperation within the EU, extending the use of e-Codex. But the Regulation also determines the creation of the European electronic access point as a tool for communication with litigants and provides a minimum framework for participation by videoconference in certain judicial proceedings by those located in other Member States. Finally, the use of electronic seals, signatures and documents is generalised, as well as the electronic payment of court fees.