Slovak Minister of Justice, Stefan Harabin, has announced Slovakia’s intention to participate in the development of an integrated European eJustice portal and an information network containing data on lost or kidnapped children.

Slovakia announced its intentions at the informal meeting of the Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs held in Lisbon, Portugal. Slovakia would like the eJustice portal in particular to contain commercial, trade and crimes registers, a bankruptcy register and also a register of missing persons.

Within the framework of this judicial co-operation, it is also proposed to establish a list of available experts, interpreters and translators. Slovakia is currently making a concerted effort to increase the number of administrative services available electronically. The latest service to be introduced is the possibility to register a commercial company via the internet.

The main obstacle to be overcome is EU-wide recognition of digital certificates which will make it possible to recognise the electronic signatures of non-nationals from other EU Member States. The ministry intends to work intensively towards the establishment of an electronic criminal database and to co-operate internationally on the development of an on-line information system on missing and kidnapped children.

Further information:

• SME.sk (in Slovak) 
• eJustice project