(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order amends the European Communities (Services of Lawyers) Order 1978 (“the 1978 Order”) in consequence of the Treaty concerning the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union, signed at Luxembourg on 25th April 2005 (O.J. No. L 157, 21.6.2005, p.11). The 1978 Order implements Council Directive 77/249/EEC, dated 22nd March 1977, to facilitate the effective exercise by lawyers of the freedom to provide services.
This Order implements the adaptations to Article 1(2) of that Directive made by Council Directive 2006/100/EC (O.J. No. L 363, 20.12.2006, p.141).
Article 3 extends the definition of “European Lawyer” in the 1978 Order to refer to Bulgaria and Romania and the national designations of lawyers in those countries. This confers certain rights to practise as a lawyer on nationals of, and lawyers professionally qualified in, Bulgaria and Romania.