1. National IT portals for communicating with courts or other authorities
The Santra system:
The Santra system is used by professional debt recovery bodies. The civil and commercial case-handling system receives electronic summonses from professionals through the Santra data system connection. Santra is an electronic system for summary undisputed cases that is used by the largest applicants/creditors. The Santra system has no interface; rather, it is a means of connecting to the files in the Tuomas system for civil and commercial matters.
The Riivel system:
Riivel is an electronic case-handling system for summary cases involving undisputed claims for payment. Undisputed payment claims can be launched in it. The Riivel system is the other electronic means besides Santra for sending summary documents initiating proceedings to the Tuomas system. The Riivel system is used by small debt collection agencies, businesses, societies and private individuals. Riivel consists of e-services and back-office services. E-services work with the case-handling platform of the judicial administration authorities at the address asiointi.oikeus.fi. Both individual and business customers may use the service. Claims may be made as a claimant or as a representative. Suomi.fi, the shared authentication system for public authorities, is used for authentication.
2. National law on videoconferencing in civil and commercial matters
Chapter 12 section 8 of the Code of Judicial Procedure provides for the right of a party to a dispute to participate by video conference. Participation by video conference is considered equivalent to personal appearance. Participation is always at the discretion of the court. Chapter 17 section 52 of the Code of Judicial Procedure sets out rules on hearing witnesses and expert witnesses by video conference. It also sets out requirements that must be met to use video conferencing. This form of hearing is also at the court’s discretion. The Government has proposed amendments to both provisions, and the proposal is passing through Parliament.
Courts in Finland use a video conferencing solution produced by the government ICT Centre Valtori. The solution currently in use is Polycom. The introduction of a new solution (Pexip) is under preparation, The general information security policies and practices of the Finnish Government apply to the solutions. No text-to-text technology is used.
Remote access is always at the discretion of the court. The court may take the initiative, but the party concerned must consent to be heard by video conference. The court must assess in each case whether video conference/remote access is suitable for handling that case. When deciding whether to use videoconferencing, the suitability of the case is assessed. This assessment may take into account, for example, the nature and importance of the case and the importance of the evidence in the case. In each individual case, the court will consider the appropriate way of participating in proceedings (present in person, participation in situ at the court). Participating remotely is considered equivalent to attending in person and remote participation does not change the way questions are asked or other aspects of participation. Interpretation is arranged regardless of whether the person attends in person or remotely.
Under the legislation currently in force, hearings of witnesses, expert witnesses and parties to be heard for evidentiary purposes must be recorded (Chapter 22 section 6 of the Code of Judicial Procedure). In future, an image and audio recording must be made of hearings of witnesses, expert witnesses or other parties for evidentiary purposes. The entry into force of the Act is laid down in separate implementing legislation. Under the legislation currently in force (Chapter 22 section 10 of the Code of Judicial Procedure), the audio recording must be kept for at least six months after the matter is decided. If an appeal has been lodged, the audio recording must be kept until the judgment has become final. Once the Code of Judicial Procedure has been amended, image and audio recordings will have to be kept for 30 days from the date the judgment becomes final.
According to section 13 of the Act on the publicity of court proceedings currently in force, the provisions of section 16 of the Act apply to the manner in which a procedural document is issued. Under the new Act to be implemented by separate implementing legislation, the procedures for issuing a procedural document are laid down in section 16 of the Act on the openness of government activities. Information about image and audio recordings made in district courts may be given only by handing over the recording to the court for viewing. However, information on image and audio recordings made in district courts may be given in accordance with section 16 of the Act on the openness of government activities. Information about image and sound recordings other than those referred to in subsection 2 may be provided only by making the recording available for viewing in court if, given the content of the recording, there are reasons to believe that providing the information might otherwise infringe the privacy of the persons on the recording.
Confidential communication between lawyer and client: Communication is influenced by, and dependent on, whether counsel and client are in the same room or separate ones. If they are in separate rooms, they may use different methods of communication, e.g. telephone, email, video link. However, the court does not organise these methods of communication. Physical objects and presentations of physical items are rare in court proceedings. Photographs are the items most often presented, and they can be shown to a party using a remote connection or, via a remote connection, to the court.
Currently no authentication is used for participation in court proceedings. The court verifies that the right person is present based on their appearance and what the person says during the case. No system based on electronic identification is currently in use.
3. National law on videoconferencing in criminal matters
Chapter 8 section 13 of the Criminal Procedure Act sets out rules on the participation in court proceedings of a party to a criminal case by video conference. Participation by video conference is considered equivalent to personal appearance. However, participation is always at the discretion of the court. The Coercive Measures Act lays down provisions on the procedures to be followed in coercion cases. The court may take the initiative, but the party concerned must consent to be heard by video conference. Consent to the use of a remote connection must always be recorded in writing in the case records. Chapter 17 section 52 of the Code of Judicial Procedure sets out rules on hearing witnesses and expert witnesses by video conference. It also sets out requirements that must be met to use video conferencing. This form of hearing is also at the court’s discretion. In practice, children are heard only by the police; children under 15 are not heard at court. In these kinds of cases, the court watches a recording made by the police if necessary.
Courts in Finland use a video conferencing solution produced by the government ICT Centre Valtori. The solution currently in use is Polycom. The introduction of a new solution (Pexip) is under preparation, The general information security policies and practices of the Finnish Government apply to the solutions. No text-to-text technology is used.
Under the legislation currently in force, hearings of witnesses, expert witnesses and parties to be heard for evidentiary purposes must be recorded (Chapter 22 section 6 of the Code of Judicial Procedure). In future, an image and audio recording must be made of hearings of witnesses, expert witnesses or other parties for evidentiary purposes. The entry into force of the Act is laid down in separate implementing legislation. Under the legislation currently in force (Chapter 22 section 10 of the Code of Judicial Procedure), the audio recording must be kept for at least six months after the matter is decided. If an appeal has been lodged, the audio recording must be kept until the judgment has become final. Once the Code of Judicial Procedure has been amended, image and audio recordings will have to be kept for 30 days from the date the judgment becomes final. Participating remotely is considered equivalent to attending in person and remote participation does not change the way questions are asked or other aspects of participation. Interpretation is arranged regardless of whether the person attends in person or remotely.
According to section 13 of the Act on the publicity of court proceedings currently in force, the provisions of section 16 of the Act apply to the manner in which a procedural document is issued. Under the new Act to be implemented by separate implementing legislation, the procedures for issuing a procedural document are laid down in section 16 of the Act on the openness of government activities. Information about image and audio recordings made in district courts may be given only by handing over the recording to the court for viewing. However, information on image and audio recordings made in district courts may be given in accordance with section 16 of the Act on the openness of government activities. Information about image and sound recordings other than those referred to in subsection 2 may be provided only by making the recording available for viewing in court if, given the content of the recording, there are reasons to believe that providing the information might otherwise infringe the privacy of the persons on the recording.
Confidential communication between lawyer and client: Communication is influenced by, and dependent on, whether counsel and client are in the same room or separate ones. If they are in separate rooms, they may use different methods of communication, e.g. telephone, email, video link. However, the court does not organise these methods of communication. Physical objects and presentations of physical items are rare in court proceedings. Photographs are the items most often presented, and they can be shown to a party using a remote connection or, via a remote connection, to the court.
Currently no authentication is used for participation in court proceedings. The court verifies that the right person is present based on their appearance and what the person says during the case. No system based on electronic identification is currently in use.
4. Fees for the procedures in civil and commercial matters
Information on court fees and payment practices can be found on the courts’ website at the following llink.
5. Electronic payment methods
The Finnish court system receives payment only in the form of bank transfers into the court system bank account. This applies to all payments invoiced by the court system and any other remuneration claimed by the court system in the way requested by the payer.
For all fees charged, the court provides the customer with a sales invoice, primarily in the form of an online invoice using the PEPPOL standard or, alternatively, as a paper invoice by post.
The court system’s income accounts are:
Danske Bank
IBAN: FI40 8129 9710 0114 95
BIC: DABAFIHH
Nordea
IBAN: FI97 1804 3000 0167 58
BIC: NDEAFIHH
6. Notification on the early use of the decentralised IT-system
The decentralised system is not yet in use in Finland.
7. Notification on the early use of videoconferencing in civil and commercial matters
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8. Notification on the early use of videoconferencing in criminal matters
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