The Council adopted the Directive on legal aid for suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings and in European arrest warrant proceedings. Legal aid is the financial or judicial support received by a suspect or accused person, who does not have the resources to cover the costs of the proceedings. The new rules will ensure that the right to legal aid is provided and the legal aid itself is offered in a uniform way across the EU. Suspects or accused persons should benefit from legal aid from the early stages of criminal proceedings and it will be granted under clear criteria defined in the Directive. Read the full press release...