Courts, associations and legal professionals, prosecutor's offices, non-governmental organisations, or any other entity responsible for justice affairs in the Member States of the Council of Europe or the European Union can now apply to the 2012 edition of the European "Crystal Scales of Justice" prize for innovative practices contributing to the efficiency and quality of civil justice.

The Council of Europe together with the European Commission is organising the 6th edition of the "Crystal Scales of Justice" Prize. The 2012 edition of this prize rewards innovative practices contributing to the efficiency and quality of civil justice. The period for applications is opened until the 30 June 2012 and the candidatures should be submitted by mail.

The 2012 competition is open to courts, associations of legal professionals, prosecutor's offices, non-governmental organisations or any other entity responsible for justice affairs in the Member States of the European Union or the Council of Europe. In the past, the Prize concerned either criminal (2009) or civil justice (2005, 2006 and 2008). For the first time in 2010, the "Crystal Scales of Justice" Prize covered at the same time the fields of criminal and civil justice.

The initiatives, which must identify and promote innovative practices in civil justice, aimed to improve the efficiency and quality of the functioning of the justice system, procedures, and court organisation, must have been introduced in order to improve the efficiency of the organisation and procedures of justice systems, particularly for the users of justice, or to improve mutual knowledge and exchange of best practice in the area of justice. They must therefore be innovative practices and their results must be measurable.