On March 13, 2025, the European Union of Judicial Officers (UEHJ), represented by its Secretary, Oscar Jans, participated in the third Steering Committee meeting of the JODES project. This meeting marks a decisive step forward as we approach the critical deadline of May 1, 2025, when electronic service of intra-European documents will become mandatory under Regulation (EU) 2020/1784.
The main objective of the JODES project is to ensure the effective integration of the e-EDES portal with the e-CODEX infrastructure. These two essential tools will enable secure, rapid, and standardized cross-border judicial communications across the European Union. The meeting provided an opportunity to assess the project’s progress and to address several technical and organizational challenges that still need to be resolved.
Among the key difficulties identified is the complexity of the data requirements for the Court Database, particularly the inclusion of detailed judicial competencies and precise geographical definitions. These are necessary to ensure the clear and unambiguous identification of competent authorities in each Member State. Another major challenge is the introduction of the eedesID, a unique European identifier assigned to each judicial officer’s office, which will ensure reliable traceability and uniform identification of participants in electronic exchanges. In addition, technical issues related to the registration and validation of access points remain to be addressed, as they are essential to guarantee a secure and seamless interconnection between national and European systems.
Despite these challenges, the consortium members, including the UEHJ as an active partner, remain fully committed and mobilized to ensure the success of this crucial project. Several key steps are still ahead, including the finalization of technical and legal reports that will govern the system’s operation, continuing technical meetings to fine-tune data integration and ensure system compatibility, and preparing practitioners for the effective use of the e-EDES portal through dedicated training and practical guidance.
During the meeting, a live demonstration of the portal confirmed the user-friendly and intuitive nature of the interface. However, it also became clear that personalized support and training will be necessary to ensure that all professionals can adopt and utilize this new tool effectively and uniformly across Europe.
The countdown has now officially begun as of May 1, 2025, electronic service will become a mandatory reality in all EU Member States. Thanks to the unwavering commitment of its partners and the continuous involvement of the UEHJ, the JODES project is moving steadily toward this goal, aiming to provide both practitioners and citizens with a modern, efficient, and secure service for cross-border judicial communications.
