PUBLIC COU CIL OF THE EUROPEA U IO. Brussels, 12 December /07 ADD 2 DOCUME T PARTIALLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC LIMITE

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1 Conseil UE COU CIL OF THE EUROPEA U IO Brussels, 12 December 2007 PUBLIC DOCUME T PARTIALLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC 15641/07 ADD 2 LIMITE JURI FO 75 JUSTCIV 315 COPE 176 OTE from: Austrian delegation to: Working Party on Legal Data Processing (E-justice) No. prev. doc. : 14602/07 JURINFO 60 COPEN 155 JUSTCIV 298 Subject: Questionnaire on videoconferencing - replies by the Austrian delegation I. I TRODUCTIO 1. Following the Working Party on Legal Data Processing (E-justice) on 20 February 2007 delegations were requested to give answers to a questionnaire for the purpose of taking stock of the situation concerning "E-Justice" in each Member State. 2. On the basis of the answers, the German Presidency, with the assistance of the European Academy of E-Justice (EEAR), provided a detailed overview of the state of play in Member States (See 9573/07 JURINFO 17). 3. Under point "C.5. Video-conferencing" of the questionnaire, delegations gave an overview of the general legal background and current practice in this field /07 ADD 2 KR/ms 1

2 4. At the meeting of the Working Party held on 21 May 2007 delegations agreed that for judicial proceedings, e-justice experts could first consider how to improve the use of videoconferencing in cross-border proceedings. 5. The Council in June 2007 confirmed that one of the priorities for future work in the field of e-justice should be to "improve the use of videoconferencing technology for communication in cross-border proceedings, in particular concerning the taking of evidence, and interpretation." (See 10509/07 JURINFO 23 JAI 301 JUSTCIV 163COPEN 89) 6. In order to speed up proceedings and reduce the costs involved, better use should be made of the possibilities existing under Community legislation, in particular hearing of witnesses or experts by videoconference, as allowed under Article 10 of the Convention of 29 May 2000 on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union 1 and taking of evidence by videoconference as foreseen by Article 10(4) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1206/2001 of 28 May 2001 on cooperation between the courts of the Member States in the taking of evidence in civil and commercial matters Currently there is not a lot of information available on the details of the use of videoconferencing in cross-border proceedings. There is as yet not even a comprehensive list of courts in Europe which have videoconference facilities (See 9567/07 JURINFO 16). 8. In order to further elaborate on the issue it is suggested that in the framework of an additional questionnaire delegations could be requested to give answers to the following questions: 1 2 OJ C 197, , p. 24. OJ L 174, , p /07 ADD 2 KR/ms 2

3 a) General aspects 1) Please give details of your internal legislation on the use of videoconferencing. In which proceedings is videoconferencing allowed to be used? o in civil proceedings (witnesses, parties, interpreters, experts) o in preliminary proceedings (accused, witnesses) o criminal proceedings (witnesses) 2) Does your internal legislation differentiate between the use of videoconferencing in internal cases and in cross-border proceedings? o No 3) In your judicial system, how many and which specific courts are equipped with videoconferencing facilities? Territorial Scope of the Higher Regional Court Wien (Oberlandesgericht Wien) Court Adress telephone number BG Bruck an der Leitha Wiener Gasse Bruck an der Leitha BG Döbling Obersteinergasse Wien BG Donaustadt Dr.Adolf-Schärf-Platz Wien BG Eisenstadt Wiener Straße Eisenstadt LG Eisenstadt Wiener Straße Eisenstadt BG Favoriten Angeligasse Wien BG Floridsdorf Gerichtsgasse Wien BG Fünfhaus Gasgasse Wien BG Hernals Kalvarienberggasse Wien BG Hietzing Hietzinger Kai Wien BG Innere Stadt Wien Marxergasse 1a 1030 Wien BGHS Wien Marxergasse 1a 1030 Wien HG Wien Marxergasse 1a 1030 Wien BG Josefstadt Florianigasse Wien BG Korneuburg Hauptplatz Korneuburg LG Korneuburg Hauptplatz Korneuburg BG Krems an der Donau Josef Wichner-Straße Krems an der Donau LG Krems an der Donau Josef Wichner-Straße Krems an der Donau BG Leopoldstadt Taborstraße Wien BG Liesing Häckelstraße Wien BG Meidling Schönbrunnerstraße /3/5.OG 1120 Wien BG Mistelbach Hauptplatz Mistelbach BG Sankt Pölten Schießstattring Sankt Pölten LG Sankt Pölten Schießstattring Sankt Pölten LG für Strafsachen Wien Landesgerichtsstraße Wien /07 ADD 2 KR/ms 3

4 Territorial Scope of the Higher Regional Court Wien (Oberlandesgericht Wien) Court Adress telephone number LG Wiener Neustadt Maria-Theresien-Ring Wiener Neustadt LG für Zivilrechtssachen Wien Schmerlingplatz Wien Territorial Scope of the Higher Regional Court Graz (Oberlandesgericht Graz) BG Graz-Ost Radetzkystraße Graz BG Graz-West Grieskai Graz LG Klagenfurt Dobernigstraße Klagenfurt BG Leoben Dr. Hanns Groß-Straße Leoben LG Leoben Dr. Hanns Groß-Straße Leoben BG Liezen Ausseerstraße Liezen BG Spittal an der Drau Schillerstraße Spittal an der Drau BG Villach Peraustraße Villach LG für Zivilrechtssachen Graz Marburger Kai Graz Territorial Scope of the Higher Regional Court Linz (Oberlandesgericht Linz) BG Linz Fadingerstraße Linz LG Linz Fadingerstraße Linz BG Ried im Innkreis Bahnhofstraße Ried im Innkreis LG Ried im Innkreis Bahnhofstraße Ried im Innkreis BG Salzburg Rudolfsplatz Salzburg LG Salzburg Rudolfsplatz Salzburg BG Sankt Johann im Pongau Eurofunkstraße Sankt Johann im Pongau BG Steyr Spitalskystraße Steyr LG Steyr Spitalskystraße Steyr LG Wels Maria Theresia-Straße Wels BG Zell am See Mozartstraße Zell am See Territorial Scope of the Higher Regional Court Innsbruck (Oberlandesgericht Innsbruck) BG Bregenz Anton-Schneider-Straße Bregenz BG Feldkirch Churerstraße Feldkirch LG Feldkirch Schillerstraße Feldkirch BG Innsbruck Museumstraße Innsbruck LG Innsbruck Maximilianstraße Innsbruck BG Kitzbühel Wagnerstraße Kitzbühel BG Lienz Hauptplatz Lienz BG Reutte Obermarkt Reutte BG = Bezirksgericht BGHS = Bezirksgericht für Handelssachen HG = Handelsgericht LG = Landesgericht 15641/07 ADD 2 KR/ms 4

5 4) With what other type of locations have the courts established video links in practice (police stations, prisons, embassies etc.)? o prisons 5) Do you have any experience of cross-border videoconferencing, in particular as regards the application of the Convention of 29 May 2000 on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union and taking of evidence by videoconference as foreseen by Article 10(4) of the Taking of Evidence Regulation? Please give details. o The cross-border videoconferences mentioned are not reported to the ministry of justice. An involved judge told that these conferences in particular with Spain proceeded without problems. 6) Do you have any experience of the use of videoconferencing equipment for translators or interpreters? o No 7) Which uses of videoconferencing equipment have proved particularly valuable to the judicial system? o Interrogation of inmates o testimonies of witnesses during court hearings b) Technical aspects 8) Do you use your own built in equipment, mobile solutions or videoconference services on demand for having videoconferences (please specify)? o Own equipment is used 9) What technical standards are used for videoconferencing (ITU H.320, H.323, G3 or other)? o H.320, H.323, H.264, H.239 and MPEG4 10) What, if any, encryptions are used to ensure security of communication in judicial proceedings? o DELETED 15641/07 ADD 2 KR/ms 5

6 11) Do you make videoconferences domestically over computer (IP connection) or telephone network (ISDN connection)? o Domestic connections are mainly based on IP, ISDN is used only in 15 locations. By 2008 all communication will be based on IP. 12) Is it allowed and possible to make a cross-border videoconference over a computer network (IP)? o No, cross border connection are established via ISDN 13) How is the videoconference managed (by a court clerk, a special technician, manually, by computer/automatically)? o By Clerk 14) Does your equipment enable: o picture in picture sending functionality (e.g. PC/ documents picture) Possible/not implemented o far-end camera control YES o multipoint connections YES o recording of the video session NO 15) Which producer's videoconferencing equipment do you use (needed to estimate compatibility possibilities, e.g. videoconferencing equipment: Tandberg, Polycom, VCON, audio equipment: Bosch/Philips, Sennheiser, Auditel, DIS or other)? o Polycom ViewStation EX (16) o Sony PCS-1 (30+) 15641/07 ADD 2 KR/ms 6