The present document is a summary of the Association for the Prevention of Torture  recommendations in response to the Council of the European Union proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and on the right to communicate upon arrest dated 11 April 2012.  Key recommendations on the following topics are presented in detail; scope of the directive, right of access to a lawyer, role of the lawyer, confidentiality of communications, the right to communicate upon arrest, remedies and derogations. These recommendations reflect the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and specifically access to lawyers and legal services.