European Treaty Series - No. 97

ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON INFORMATION ON FOREIGN LAW

Strasbourg, 15.III.78

The member States of the Council of Europe, signatory hereto,

Having regard to the provisions of the European Convention on Information on Foreign Law, opened for signature in London on 7 June 1968 (hereinafter referred to as the "Convention");

Considering that it is desirable to extend the system of international mutual assistance established by that Convention in the field of criminal law and procedure, in a multilateral framework open to all the Contracting Parties to the Convention;

Considering that, with a view to eliminating economic obstacles to legal proceedings and permitting persons in an economically weak position more easily to exercise their rights in member States, it is also desirable to extend the system established by the Convention to the field of legal aid and advice in civil and commercial matters;

Noting that Article 1, paragraph 2, of the Convention provides that two or more Contracting Parties may decide to extend as between themselves the scope of the Convention to fields other than those referred to in the Convention;