New FULL-PROOF Report: Procedural Rights Need Stronger Protection in Practice
FULL-PROOF has published a new comparative report on the practical implementation of procedural rights across seven EU Member States. It shows that while key EU standards are largely reflected in national law, their application in practice remains uneven.
The report identifies the earliest stages of criminal proceedings as the moment when procedural rights are most vulnerable. This is when the way rights are communicated, access to a lawyer is secured, and legal aid is made available can have a decisive impact on the fairness of the proceedings.
The findings also show that practical barriers do not affect everyone equally. Foreign nationals, non-native speakers and vulnerable persons may face additional difficulties in understanding their rights, accessing legal assistance or navigating the justice system.
Overall, the report concludes that the main challenge is no longer the formal transposition of EU law but ensuring that rights work effectively in real-life proceedings. It highlights the need for clearer communication, early and confidential access to lawyers, stronger legal aid systems, better language support, and continuous, practice-oriented training.