Competent Authorities of the European Union Agree on a Unified Right to Access to a Lawyer

In June 2011, the European Commission (EC) presented a proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament (EP) and of the Council of the European Union (Council) on the right of access to a lawyer and on the right to communicate upon arrest.[2] This proposal is the third in application of the Roadmap for Strengthening Procedural Rights of Suspected and Accused Persons in Criminal Proceedings,[3] which was adopted by the Council on November 30, 2009.[4] The first measure (on interpretation and translation)[5] was adopted on October 20, 2010.[6] The second measure (on the right to information and a letter of rights)[7] was adopted on May 22, 2012.[8]