62023CJ0530_SUM
Case C‑530/23 [Barało (
i
)]
Criminal proceedings
v
K.P.
(Request for a preliminary rulingfrom the Sąd Rejonowy we Włocławku)
Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 8 May 2025
(References for a preliminary ruling – Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Directive (EU) 2016/1919 – Legal aid – Directive 2013/48/EU – The right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings – Procedural safeguards for vulnerable persons – Determination of the vulnerability of such persons – No legal presumption – Direct effect – Questioning of a suspect in the absence of a lawyer – Admissibility of evidence obtained in breach of procedural rights)
Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and right of a person in custody to communicate – Vulnerable persons – Concept – Persons with mental disorders – Included – Presumption of vulnerability in criminal proceedings – None – Obligation to determine the vulnerability of an accused person or of a suspect – Obligation to ensure access to legal aid without undue delay – No need for a request from the person in a vulnerable situation
(European Parliament and Council Directives 2013/48, recital 51 and Arts 3(2) and 13, and 2016/1919, Arts 1(2), 2(1), 4(2) and (5), and 9)
(see paragraphs 53-59, 61-72, operative part 1)
Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings – Directive 2013/48 – Right to legal aid – Directive 2016/1919 – Direct effect – Obligations of national courts – Obligation of consistent interpretation – Obligation to disapply national provisions which are inconsistent with provisions of EU law that have direct effect
(European Parliament and Council Directives 2013/48, Arts 3(2) and (3), and 2016/1919, Arts 2(1), 4(2) and (5), and 9)
(see paragraphs 76-91)
Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and right of a person in custody to communicate – Directive 2013/48 – Remedies – Decisions relating to the examination of a person’s vulnerability – Decisions concerning refusal to grant legal aid – Questioning of the suspect without a lawyer being present – Obligation to state reasons and to provide a remedy – Admissibility of evidence obtained in breach of procedural rights – Conditions – Review carried out by the court in the light of procedural guarantees
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 47 and 48(2); European Parliament and Council Directives 2013/48, Art. 12(1) and (2) and 2016/1919, Art. 8)
(See paragraphs 96-108, operative part 2)
See the text of the decision.
(
i
)	The name of the present case is a fictitious name. It does not correspond to the real name of any of the parties to the proceedings.