To Örebro University

Sia in Svezia che in Finlandia (Paesi appartenenti all’area legale scandinava) esistono tre gradi di giurisdizione. Dopo un primo appello è consentito, a certe condizioni, un secondo appello dinanzi alla Corte suprema di entrambi gli ordinamenti. Si osservano le regole contenute nel c.p.c. svedese del 1948 (quale ripetutamente modificato negli ultimi anni, segnatamente nel 2008) e nel c.p.c. finlandese, anch’esso oggetto di incisive riforme (sin dal 1993) volte a migliorarne, come in Svezia, la efficienza e ad introdurvi l’uso delle nuove tecnologie. Il legislatore ha previsto in ambedue gli stati l’istituto del c.d. permesso per appellare, che subordina l’accesso al giudice superiore (inclusa la Corte suprema) ad una autorizzazione preventiva variamente modulata. La fisionomia dell’appello è quella di un giudizio diretto a riesaminare la decisione emessa nel grado inferiore e non a permettere lo svolgimento di una ulteriore fase del giudizio (attraverso l’assunzione di nuove prove): se in Svezia questo modello si è definitivamente consolidato, diversamente accade in Finlandia, dove esistono ancora forti resistenze che riflettono la tradizionale preoccupazione dei finlandesi per i diritti processuali delle parti.

In Sweden, like in Finland too, there are three instances in the general courts which are district courts, courts of appeal and the Supreme Court. Both Sweden and Finland are civil law countries and they belong to the Scandinavian legal family. The current Swedish Code of Judicial Procedure (SCJP) dates from 1948. In 2008, a rather substantial reform, the so-called more modern process (EMR) entered into force. The main aim of the reform was to create an efficient and purposive procedure in the general courts. The reform became famous thanks to the extensive use of modern technology by hearings. Through new rules it is now possible to let everyone in a trial participate through a video conference. Also the Finnish Code of Judicial Procedure (FCJP) has undergone major changes since the 1990s. In 1993, legislation entered into force to harmonise the system of general lower courts and to reform the civil procedure. Both in Sweden and Finland, the trend is to focus on the procedures in district courts and to limit the chances to appeal fully. Therefore in both countries, the leaves for appeal are nowadays covering, not only the Supreme Courts like has traditionally been the case, but also the courts of appeals. In addition, the courts of appeal donÅLt try the case fully but focus more on evaluating the correctness of the decision made in the district court. Also evidence is not that much on focus any more at the appeal procedures even if the case still can be appealed on problems in the evidence too. Especially in Finland, there have been many proposals for enforcing this type of thinking but the tradition of two full procedures as parties’ right has deep roots in Finland and the discussion has therefore been hot.