Language of requests for cooperation

Czech Republic

Czech republic - Act on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters 2013 EN

PART ONE OPENING PROVISIONS

Section 12 Translations
(1) Unless an international treaty or this Act stipulate otherwise, the judicial authority will secure translation of the request for international judicial cooperation and its annexes into the foreign language.
(2) Translation of a decision or other document sent from a foreign state on the basis of a request of an authority of the Czech Republic for international judicial cooperation into the Czech language will be secured by the authority that needs it for its procedure in criminal proceedings.
(3) In case an authority of the Czech Republic does not receive a request if a foreign authority for international judicial cooperation and its annexes in the Czech language or provided with a translation into the Czech language, such a translation will be requested from the foreign state, unless an international treaty or this Act provides otherwise. If it cannot be requested, the translation will be secured by the authority that needs it for its procedure according to this Act.

PART THREE Individual forms of International Judicial Cooperation
Chapter I Legal Assistance
Sub-chapter 2 Providing Legal Assistance to Foreign Authorities

Section 52 Service of Documents
(1) Addressee in the Czech Republic may be served documents drawn up in the language that is assumed, with regard to all circumstances, to be understood by the addressee, or documents provided by a translation into this language.
(2) If the document is not drawn up in language according to conditions referred to in Sub- section (1), or provided with a translation into this language, the foreign authority will be requested to provide translation of the document and at the same time will be advised that otherwise the document without a translation will be served to the addressee only under the conditions of sentence three. If an international treaty stipulates that the foreign authority is not obliged to provide translation of documents, it will be provided by the judicial authority competent for executing the request of the foreign authority for legal assistance. Translation of documents is not necessary, if the addressee, after being advised on the option to refuse personal service of documents in a language he does not understand, which are not provided with a translation into a language he understands, declares that he is willing to accept the documents.
(3) Documents will be served to the addressee pursuant to the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure on process serving. On the basis of an explicit request on the foreign authority the documents may be served personally or through a judicial authority, which will draw up a protocol of the service. The protocol will reflect, in addition to requirements referred to in Section 55 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure also the exact specification of the served documents.
(4) The foreign authority may serve documents to an addressee in the Czech Republic directly through a postal services provider only if it is allowed by an international treaty or with a previous consent of the Minister of Justice according to Section 4 (4).
(5) If the served documents contain a threat of enforcement, such threat is ineffective in the territory of the Czech Republic .

PART FOUR Cooperation with International Criminal Courts and Tribunals
Chapter I General Provisions

Section 147 Translations
(1) If an international court sends the central authority a request or order in a foreign language without a translation, the central authority will provide the translation, if an international court referred to in Section 145 (1) (a) is concerned; possibilities of reimbursement of costs of the translation will be then consulted with the international court.
(2) If an international court referred to in Section 145 (1) (b) or (c) is concerned, the translation will be provided by the central authority if the international court provides an assurance that it will bear the costs of the translation. Otherwise the central authority may return the request or order to the international court without execution.

Rome Statute

Article 87 Requests for cooperation: general provisions

2. Requests for cooperation and any documents supporting the request shall either be in or be accompanied by a translation into an official language of the requested State or one of the working languages of the Court, in accordance with the choice made by that State upon ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Subsequent changes to this choice shall be made in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.