European Parliament and Council Directive 2010/64/UE, Concerning the Right to Interpretation and Translation in Criminal Trials
This article examines the content and possible effects of European Parliament and Council Directive 2010/64/UE on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal trials for suspects and defendants who do not speak or understand the language of the trial. The Directive establishes common minimum norms for European Union countries and should remain in effect from the moment at which the individuals involved are notified of the commission of a possible criminal offense until the end of the trial, including sentencing and the resolution of any and all appeals. One of the most interesting aspects of the Directive is the question of the quality of the interpretation and/or translation, given that the Directive states that in order for the individuals involved to understand the charges brought against them and exercise their right to defense, the member states of the European Union should establish a roster of qualified translators and interpreters. Although the Directive has not yet been put into practice in Spain, the author supports the idea that judicial interpreters and translators should be required to have university-level certification in order to improve the work conditions of this sector as well as to achieve standardization in judicial interpretation and translation at the European level.
