Central European justice ministers plan to intensify cooperation and coordinate their positions in several areas within the European Union, Hungary's Minister of Public Administration and Justice Tibor Navracsics said on Friday.

Mr Navracsics told the press after a meeting of central European justice ministers in Veszprém in western Hungary that positions will be coordinated concerning European insolvency proceedings, the European prosecutor and the justice scoreboard.

He stated that European insolvency proceedings represent a new regulatory proposal to harmonise and standardise such procedures for companies operating in the EU. The central European countries have a common interest, and the six countries will act together in this area, he added.

A proposal on the European prosecutor is still being prepared and this is scheduled to be discussed at Monday's council of interior and justice ministers in Luxembourg. The six central European countries think more or less along the same lines on this issue, so it makes sense to develop a joint position, the Minister said.

The first draft of the justice scoreboard has already been completed, but countries are generally sceptical about the scoreboard which has been designed to measure independence and efficiency, Mr Navracsics highlighted. Hungary scored well under the current system. The positions of the six countries are close also in this area, and they can therefore work together effectively, he added.

(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)