European Bar leaders stress lawyers’ contribution to EU
On Tuesday 3 June, eight Bar leaders* from across Europe renewed their calls for EU decision makers to recognise better the contribution of a strong and independent legal profession to Europe’s citizens, its businesses and to strengthening the Single Market.
The opening of a Brussels office, shared between British, German, Austrian and Belgian bars, marks a renewed commitment to collaboration on bringing this message to the EU and to doing so in a constructive manner.
Core values of the legal profession, such as independence and professional secrecy, are shared by all Europe’s lawyers. However, it is essential to realise that it is the citizen – and not the lawyer - that is the beneficiary of these principles.
Lawyers are one of the pillars of a just, efficient and effective legal system. This in turn is the basis for a strong and dynamic economy. EU legal professions not only contributes to the economy but they are indispensable in helping business, as well as the citizen, in all their dealings, to the wider benefit of Europe’s economy.
Richard Henderson, president of the Law Society of Scotland said: “I'm delighted to see the Brussels Office move into these high quality, modern premises close to the European institutions. As the eyes and ears of the legal profession the office exists to provide essential on-the ground contact with EU policymakers at the crucial early stages of policy formation.
“In addition to offering hot-desking and conference facilities to solicitors another important feature of the office is the co-location of not only the UK Law Societies, but also the German, Austrian and French and German speaking Belgian Bars. That, combined with the close proximity of the European lawyers organisation, the CCBE, allows close co-operative work in issues that affect the legal professions across Europe"
ENDS
Notes to Editor
* List of Bar Presidents and Vice-Presidents present on 3 June. This list also gives the names of all the organisations sharing the premises in Brussels.
Law Society of Scotland
Mr Richard HENDERSON, President of Law Society of Scotland
Law Society of England and Wales
Mr Andrew HOLROYD, President
Law Society of Northern Ireland
Mr Donald EAKIN, President of the Council of Law Society of Northern Ireland
Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer (the German Federal Bar)
Dr. Axel FILGES, President
JR Dr. Norbert WESTENBERGER, Vice-President
Ekkehart SCHÄFER, Vice-President
Hans-Jörg STÄHLE, Vice-President
Österreichische Rechtsanwaltskammertag (the Austrian Bar)
Dr. Gerhard BENN-IBLER, President
Dr. Waltraute STEGER, Vice-President
Order des Barreaux Francophones et Germanophones de Belgique (Order the French and German-speaking Bars of Belgium)
Mr Luc MARECHAL, President
Barreau de Luxembourg (the Luxembourg Bar)
Mr Jean KAUFFMAN, Bâtonnier de l’ordre des avocats du barreau de Luxembourg
Bar Council of England and Wales
Mr Timothy DUTTON QC, Chairman of the Bar of England & Wales
Mr Desmond BROWNE QC, Vice Chairman of the Bar of England & Wales
Bundesarchitektenkammer
Prof. Arno Sighart SCHMID, President
Bundesingenieurkammer
Dr.-Ing. Jens KARSTEDT, President
European Council of Engineers Chambers
Dr. Mirko ORESCOVIC, President
** Information about the office
