The EC has proposed a Regulation to reduce administrative procedures for citizens and businesses, removing the bureaucratic seals currently required for the recognition of public documents in other EU member states.
The new regulations will simplify procedures through, among others, the following measures:
- suppress the legalization and “Apostille” procedures;
- eliminate the need to present a còpia certified with the original public document, allowing the presentation of uncertified copies with the originals;
- ensure the acceptance of non-sworn translations of public documents issued by the authorities of other Member States;
- provide optional EU multilingual standard forms;
- improve administrative cooperation between Member States to contribute to the fight against fraud.
The proposal includes 12 categories of public documents that would be automatically exempt from formalities, and which will be those relating to name, marriage and registered union, birth, filiation, adoption, death, residence, citizenship and nationality, real estate ownership, legal personality and representaof a company or company, intellectual property rights or documents certifying the absence of a criminal record.
Where a national authority has reasonable doubts about a particular document, Member States may verify its authenticity with the authorities that issued it through the existing Internal Market Information System (IMI).
The proposal for a Regulation should now be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council through the ordinary legislative procedure (codecision).
