Living in an area of freedom, security and justice European CommissionDirectorate-General Justice and Home affairs

Living in an area offreedom, security and

justice

European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

The implementationof the European Arrest Warrant

Sébastien COMBEAUD

European Commission

DG JLS – Unit « Criminal Justice »

Brussels, 13.2.2006

European Commission

The implementation of the EAW

Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice

Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

What is the EAW ?• A Judicial decision

issued by an issuing judicial authority in a MS with a view to the arrest and surrender of a requested

person by an executing judicial authority in another MS

• Two purposes:conducting criminal prosecution (suspects)executing a custodial sentence or detention

order (convicted persons)European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Time for (early) evaluation• 13 Jun’ 2002 Framework decision

adopted• 1 Jan’ 2004 Entry into force of EAW

• Feb’ 2005 1st Evaluation by COM• Jun’ 2005 Council Conclusions• Oct’ 2005 Conference of Parliaments• Jan’ 2006 1st Evaluation (revision IT)

• Jun’ 2006 2nd Evaluation by COM• 2006-2009 Mutual Evaluation by MS

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Outlines

I- FD legal added valuea) Reduction of national barriers

b) Simplification of proceedings

c) Some limits of FD

II- EAW practical implementationa) Almost purely judicial

b) More efficient

c) More expedient

d) Respectful for individual guarantees

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Legal added value of FD :Reduction of national barriers

• Ban on Executive involvement

• Removal of dual criminality check

• Surrender of nationals

• Limited grounds for refusalEuropean Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Legal added value of FD :Simplified procedure

• Simple request

• Deadlines

• Individual guarantees

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Simple Request• Form

– Standard– Translated– Unique

• Transmission– Direct (EJN can help)– Alert first (SIS or Interpol)

European Commission

The EAW

Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Deadlines• Decision

– within 10 days after consent– otherwise within 60 days after arrest– may be extended by 30 days

(exceptional circumstances)

• Surrender– no later than 10 days after decision– may be postponed

(unforeseen circumstances)

European Commission

The EAW

Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Individual guarantees• Information• Interpreter• Judicial hearing• Speciality rules

FD more precise on :• Ne bis in idem/Double jeopardy• Legal counsel• Review of provisional detention• Deduction of the detention period

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Legal added value :some limits of FD

• Value of Interpol alert ?• Surrender for accessory offences ?• Detailed legal basis for executing the

sentence in own country ?• Uncompleted approximation of:

– sentences– individual guarantees

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Practical impact of EAW :• Almost transposed• Full judicial involvement• More efficient• More expedient• Individual guarantees under

scrutiny

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Almost Transposed• Transposition Delays :

– Jan’ 2004 : 8 MS– May 2004 : 16 MS– May 2005 : 25 MS

• Transitional Period– Lawfully : FR, IT, AT– Unlawfully : CZ, LU, SI

• Negative Constitutional Tests– Apr’ 2005 : PL– Jul’ 2005 : DE– Nov’ 2005 : CY

• Infringements

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Practical impact :Full judicial involvement

• Direct Contacts allowed• Multiple EAW requests (Eurojust)

• Difficulties with– Central Authorities : EE, IE– Executive involvement : DK, DE, EE,

LV, LT

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Practical impact : More efficientStatistics• + 3000 EAWs in 2004 > Extradition Arrest (30%) Surrender (60%)

Fewer Refusals• Variety across EU (from 3 to 20 grounds !)• Infringements :

– Unforeseen grounds: DK EL, IE, IT CY, MT NL PT UK– Privileged Nationals: CZ, NL

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Practical impact : More expedientStatistics• 12 - 9 months 6 - 2 weeks• 14 delays notified to Eurojust in 2004

Infringements : 1MS out of 5

Practical difficulties• Transmission after arrest (within 2 to 40 days)• Authentification (secured fax or original)• Translation (1 to 4 languages accepted)• Abusive requestsProspects : case law, experience, SIS II…

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Practical impact :Individual guarantees under scrutiny

• From Art. 6 ECHR to Pupino case-law• Full transposition of FD• Explicit grounds for refusal (2 MS out of 3)

• Judicial review• Consent in 1 case out of 3 in 2004

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Conclusions

• Significant improvement of EU judicial cooperation

• Infringements to be corrected

• Mutual trust building

• Furthering Mutual recognition

European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Further information• FD : OJ L 190, 18.7.2002• Council Website (national laws) :

http://ue.eu.int/cms3_Applications/applications/PolJu/details.asp?id=66&lang=EN&cmsid=720

• Commission Website / JLS pages :http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/fsj/criminal/extradition/

fsj_criminal_extradition_en.htm

• Reports : COM(2006)8 and SEC(2006)79, 24.1.2006

Thank you !European Commission


Living in an

area of freedo

m, security

and justice


Documents

Living in an area of freedom, security and justice European CommissionDirectorate-General Justice and Home affairs