Dominique Voillemot, an honorary member of the Paris Bar and a member of the Brussels Bar, has chaired the Delegation of French Bars in Brussels since 2005.

Why is there a Delegation of French Bars in Brussels?

French lawyers became aware of the growing importance of Community law some 25 years ago. To stay well informed on its development, the Paris Bar, spurred on by its President Bernard du Granrut, and subsequently all French bars, began to see the need for setting up in Brussels a structure that would provide information for lawyers and serve as a contact point with the Community authorities. The Delegation of French Bars (DBF) was therefore founded in 1983. At the same time, French lawyers noted that their profession was moving beyond national borders. The directive facilitating the exercise by lawyers of freedom to provide services enabled them to practice occasionally in another European Union member state. The establishment directive then gave them the possibility to exercise their profession in any member state of their choice. The DBF was given the task of assisting French lawyers in exercising the possibilities offered by these directives. Today, the DBF that I am honoured to chair is composed of three lawyers, assisted by a legal expert, a communication manager and a secretary. This team handles a wide range of activities. First of all, the delegation represents French lawyers with the EU institutions (Commission, Parliament, Permanent Representation of France). Second, it defends the interests and values of the profession. To that end it, works closely with the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) and the other representations of national bars present in Brussels. Third, the DBF, based in the heart of the EU district, keeps French lawyers informed on a weekly basis of the latest developments in Community law with an electronic newsletter L’Europe en Bref and quarterly with a review containing in-depth articles and summaries of recent judgements, L’Observateur de Bruxelles. Along the same lines, it provides legal support for French lawyers with Community law research and organises training sessions in both Brussels and France.

When you moved to Brussels in 1967, you were one of the first European lawyers. What are the major phases in the evolution of European law that stand out in your mind?

I did indeed arrive in Brussels in 1967 to open the first foreign office of Gide, Loyrette, Nouel. At the time, it was the only French law office in Brussels. There was also a German law firm, Gleis. In the 1970s, the issues were mainly related to the development of the Common Agricultural Policy and competition policy. In the 1980s and 1990s, Community law focused on the development of the internal market: free movement of goods, services, capital and persons. Over the years, Community law came to have increasing influence on national law and case-law. Today, it affects every aspect of citizens’ lives, in both criminal and civil matters (European arrest warrant, European family law, European company law, European consumer law, etc). This development is continuing and encompasses ever more spheres of law.

Why did you choose the subject of citizens’ access to law and justice in Europe as the subject of your conference?

A number of reasons led us to choose the subject of citizens’ access to law and justice in Europe. First, this is an objective of the French EU Presidency. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has asked Alain Lamassoure, member of the European Parliament and former European affairs minister, to “come forward with practical proposals to improve the effective application of Community law for citizens” because “while the law applicable to companies and agricultural policy rules are generally well applied, the same cannot be said for laws relating to ordinary citizens”. By organising this conference, the French Bar and the Delegation of French Bars have chosen to demonstrate their interest in European integration and their involvement with a view to a successful French EU Presidency. With this event, French lawyers wish to make their contribution to the challenge of bringing Europe closer to its citizens. Our objective is to highlight the achievements of European integration for EU citizens and to illustrate the added value of building a European area of security, justice and freedom. We also wish to stress the essential role played by lawyers, who have the task of making the instruments made available by Community law more accessible and more intelligible to citizens. Indeed, lawyers must be one of the principal vehicles for narrowing the gap between citizens and justice and law in Europe.