Legal aid

National information and online forms concerning Directive 2003/8/EC

General information

Council Directive 2003/8/EC of 27 January 2003 to improve access to justice in cross-border disputes by establishing minimum common rules relating to legal aid for such disputes seeks to promote the application of legal aid in cross-border disputes for persons who lack sufficient resources where aid is necessary to secure effective access to justice.

The Directive applies between all Member States of the European Union with the exception of Denmark. Between Denmark and certain Member States the European Agreement on the Transmission of Applications for Legal Aid of 1977 applies.

Transmitting authorities are competent to send applications. Receiving authorities are competent to receive applications.

The directive provides for two standard forms, one for legal aid applications and one for the transmission of legal aid applications.

The European e-Justice Portal provides you with information concerning the application of the Directive and a user-friendly tool for filling in the forms.

Please select the relevant country's flag to obtain detailed national information.

Related links

Commission Decision of 9 November 2004 establishing a form for legal aid applications under Council Directive 2003/8/EC to improve access to justice in cross-border disputes by establishing minimum common rules relating to legal aid for such disputes

Commission Decision of 26 August 2005 establishing a form for the transmission of legal aid applications under Council Directive 2003/8/EC

ARCHIVED European Judicial ATLAS website (closed on 30 September 2017)

Last update: 17/11/2021

This page is maintained by the European Commission. The information on this page does not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Commission. The Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice with regard to copyright rules for European pages.