Abstract: Article 6 para. 3 b of the European Convention of Human Rights recognizes to any accused the right to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defense. The rule that the defendant must have the necessary time and facilities for the preparation of his defense represents a constitutive element of the substance of a fair trial. It tends to correct the imbalance between the procedural means used by the accused and the means put in practice by prosecuting authorities; means may be qualified as significantly investigative and coercive means.

Key-words: right to defense, preparation of the defence, facilities