Council of the European Union and European Parliament 22 October 2013, Directive 2013/48/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2013 on the right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and in European arrest warrant proceedings, and on the right to have a third party informed upon deprivation of liberty and to communicate with third persons and with consular authorities while deprived of liberty

Also known as

Directive 2013/48/EU establishes minimum standards for suspects and accused persons in criminal and European arrest warrant proceedings regarding the right of access to a lawyer and the right to communicate with third parties and consular authorities upon deprivation of liberty. Key provisions mandate access to a lawyer without undue delay, ensure the confidentiality of legal communications, and define strict criteria for temporary derogations based on urgent safety or investigative needs. The Directive applies from the moment of official notification of suspicion until the final determination of the case, requiring Member States to provide effective remedies for breaches of these procedural rights.AI