FantasticSearch

Definitions For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:

(1) ‘competent authority’ means a court, public prosecutor’s office, central authority and other competent authorities defined in, designated or which are the subject of notification in accordance with, the legal acts listed in Annexes I and II, as well as Union bodies and agencies that take part in judicial cooperation procedures in accordance with the legal acts listed in Annex II; for the purposes of Article 5, ‘competent authority’ also means any court or other authority competent under Union or national law to conduct hearings through videoconferencing or other distance communication technology in civil and commercial matters; for the purposes of Article 6, ‘competent authority’ also means any court or other authority taking part in procedures laid down in the legal acts listed in Annex II;

(2) ‘electronic communication’ means the digital exchange of information over the internet or another electronic communication network;

(3) ‘decentralised IT system’ means a network of IT systems and interoperable access points, operating under the individual responsibility and management of each Member State, Union body or agency, that enables the secure and reliable cross-border exchange of information;

(4) ‘European electronic access point’ means a portal which is accessible to natural and legal persons or their representatives, throughout the Union, and is connected to an interoperable access point in the context of the decentralised IT system;

(5) ‘fees’ means payments levied by competent authorities in the context of proceedings under the legal acts listed in Annex I;

(6) ‘videoconferencing’ means audio-visual transmission technology that allows two-way and simultaneous communication of image and sound, thereby enabling visual, audio and oral interaction.