June 3, 2019 / Explotación
Dear friends and colleagues,
ELRA is completing 17 years since its Founding Assembly in Lisbon with the support of the European Commission along with Spain, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Greece, besides Portugal that together with all other members and partners have made what the association is today.
Land Registries systems exist in the field of preventive justice, guided by independence, impartiality, and third-party protection towards the rule of law. Legal certainty is its cornerstone. This also means confidence!
Confidence is the reason why ELRA is now a consolidated team and confidence is what I thank you for today. Thank you very much ELRA members for the opportunity to become ELRA President. Thank you so much, dear Board members for joining this next two-years journey.
The European Union has as one of its essential purposes the development of a single market with free movement of persons, assets, services, and capital, along with data, for which the support of strong institutions, based not only in solid principles and organization, but also in mutual knowledge and trust, is fundamental. And this is precisely what ELRA does, mainly in the field of Land Registry and the application of European Regulations, but also as regards judicial cooperation, data protection, environmental and digital transition. The better knowledge we have of other members’ systems the better the confidence in transnational relations and contracts and the more single market, within Europe!
ELRA has reached a stage of maturity reflected in its outputs, made possible by the work of the Contact Points, the dedication of those coordinators responsible for the studies and fact-sheets and a professional Secretariat.
The display of relevant, accessible and quality legal information in a practical perspective from the 25 ELRA countries is an effective way to contribute to the third-party protection, or in another sense, to the consumer protection policy within the European space of freedom as regards immovable properties.
In fact, the information provided by Land Registries, will need to become accessible and interoperable with secure access, in accordance with the European Union standards on data processing, digitalization and data protection.
In this regard, ELRA is about to complete the IMOLA III Project, which gathered in a single platform the most relevant Land Registry information, both in English and in each national language. The unanimous agreement on the way to organize the information, summarized in the ELRD template – the European Land Registry Document – is quite an achievement as regards the reciprocal understanding and a recognized step towards the aimed Land Registry Interconnection in Europe.
Today, ELRA is considered, in Europe, the representative of Land Registries and a stakeholder whose opinion is taken into consideration when preparing new directives or regulations in matters related to them.
It is our responsibility to maintain and strengthen the relation with the European Commission bearing in mind its main priorities for this upcoming period: on one hand, the digital transition that transversally will affect all sort of activities (and land registries will be no exception), and, on the other hand, the Green Deal and the management of environmental data which is fundamental for our common sustainability, always highlighting the role of Land Registries.
It is also our responsibility to enhance cooperation with judges and the European Judicial Network, emphasizing the value of Land Registry information as a privileged mean of evidence in decision-making and its enforcement.
Keeping internal cohesion and speaking at one voice will determine the role we want for ELRA and the future of Land Registrars and Land Registries systems, as a recognised source of social and economic truthfulness and confidence, respecting national differences and the land registry principles approved by all members.
In the next two years, we wish to reinforce contacts that, despite all successful on-line activities, due to the pandemic became more formal. Externally, by participating in different forums whether European or International, professional or academic, legal or technological.
Internally, feeling comfortable to contact the Board, the Secretariat or another member making suggestions, sharing ideas or getting information about any topic or question regarding Land Registries and our practice.
ELRA will continue the study of European Regulations and the questions arising from them, whether at national level or within cross-border situations and in the context of decisions of the European Court of Justice. The studies aim to facilitate, among others, the registration of decisions issued by judges concerning immovable properties located in another MS; acts related to matrimonial property regimes and the liquidation or distribution of immovable assets located in a different MS or unknown rights in rem arising from succession subject to the law of another country.
The digital transition, bordered by human rights and data protection, along with the e-Idas Regulation and the proposals for European Digital Identity will follow the substantive studies, since they are closely related to all of them and will make their presence known everywhere.
It is an honour to serve ELRA, having committed colleagues as Board members and counting on an engaged and focused group of registry experts and academics. I truly believe that the fruitful cooperation of the previous years will be strengthened with the determination of us all!
It is the sincerest wish of the new Board that ELRA reaffirms a place in the framework of Europe as a trusted partner and continuously enhances the importance of Land Registries in the field of legal security, of the European space of freedom and of the Human Fundamental Rights.
Brussels, 26th November 2021
Luisa Clode
ELRA President
