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EUROPEAN UNION SUPPORTS THE E-APOSTILLE PILOT PROGRAM (E-APP)

The Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law is very pleased to announce that the European Union has accorded substantial financial support to the electronic Apostille Pilot Program (e-APP). This support will allow for the further development, implementation and operation of e-Registers of Apostilles and the promotion of the e-APP in the European Union and beyond.

The financial support is accorded under the "Civil Justice" Programme and is the result of a grant application submitted by the Permanent Bureau with Spain as partner and the Czech Republic, Finland and France as associate partners. The Permanent Bureau is very grateful to all its partners, and indeed the European Union, for this significant support which underscores the importance of the e-APP as an effective means to strengthen the effective and secure operation of the Apostille Convention.

The e-APP for Europe is a transnational e-justice/e-administration project designed to develop best practices in relation to the Apostille Convention by promoting the e-APP, in particular the use of e-Registers of Apostilles. The 18-month project is comprised of 3 interrelated elements:

1. The development and implementation of a central e-Register of Apostilles for all Competent Authorities in Spain
2. The holding of 3 regional meetings across Europe to encourage all participating States to implement e-Registers
3. The holding of the 6^th International Forum on the e-APP

6^th e-APP Forum - Save the date!

The first highlight of the project will be the holding of the 6^th Forum on the e-APP in Madrid on 29 & 30 June 2010, as part of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. The Madrid Forum will be open to any interested State and targeted to government officials, Competent Authorities, IT experts, judges, practitioners and scholars who are interested in:

• The most recent developments with the e-APP
• An open dialogue on the best practices for the implementation of the e-APP
• Learning from the experiences of those with first hand knowledge of the e-APP

The programme of the Forum will also highlight the development of a central e-Register for all Competent Authorities issuing Apostilles in Spain. The successful roll-out of the Spanish e-Register of Apostilles will serve as a model for implementing this component of the e-APP in other European jurisdictions and indeed any other Contracting State.

There is no cost to attend the Madrid Forum, but registration will be required. Additional details, including information on registration, venue, and the draft programme, will follow shortly.