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Living in an area of
freedom, security and justice
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of the
EAW
The implementation
of the European Arrest
Warrant
Living in an
area of
freedom,
security
and justice
Sébastien COMBEAUD
European Commission
DG JLS – Unit « Criminal Justice »
Brussels, 13.2.2006
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
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
Living in an • Two purposes:
area of
 conducting criminal prosecution (suspects)
freedom,
 executing a custodial sentence or detention
order (convicted persons)
security
and justice
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
Time for (early) evaluation
• 13 Jun’ 2002
• 1 Jan’ 2004
•
•
•
Living in an •
Feb’ 2005
Jun’ 2005
Oct’ 2005
Jan’ 2006
area of • Jun’ 2006
freedom, • 2006-2009
security
and justice
European Commission
Framework decision adopted
Entry into force of EAW
1st Evaluation by COM
Council Conclusions
Conference of Parliaments
1st Evaluation (revision IT)
2nd Evaluation by COM
Mutual Evaluation by MS
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
Outlines
I- FD legal added value
a)
b)
c)
Living in an
area of
freedom,
security
and justice
Reduction of national barriers
Simplification of proceedings
Some limits of FD
II- EAW practical implementation
a)
b)
c)
d)
Almost purely judicial
More efficient
More expedient
Respectful for individual guarantees
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
Legal added value of FD :
Reduction of national barriers
Living in an
area of
freedom,
security
and justice
• Ban on Executive involvement
• Removal of dual criminality
check
• Surrender of nationals
• Limited grounds for refusal
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
Legal added value of FD :
Simplified procedure
Living in an
area of
freedom,
security
and justice
• Simple request
• Deadlines
• Individual guarantees
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The EAW
Simple Request
• Form
– Standard
– Translated
– Unique
Living in an • Transmission
area of
– Direct (EJN can help)
freedom,
– Alert first (SIS or Interpol)
security
and justice
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The EAW
Deadlines
• Decision
– within 10 days after consent
– otherwise within 60 days after arrest
– may be extended by 30 days
(exceptional circumstances)
Living in an
area of
freedom,
security
and justice
• Surrender
– no later than 10 days after decision
– may be postponed
(unforeseen circumstances)
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
Individual guarantees
Living in an
area of
freedom,
security
and justice
• 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
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
Legal added value :
some limits of FD
• Value of Interpol alert ?
• Surrender for accessory offences ?
• Detailed legal basis for executing the
Living in an sentence in own country ?
area of • Uncompleted approximation of:
– sentences
freedom,
– individual guarantees
security
and justice
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
Practical impact of EAW :
•
•
•
•
Living in an
area of •
freedom,
security
and justice
Almost transposed
Full judicial involvement
More efficient
More expedient
Individual guarantees under
scrutiny
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the
EAW
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
Living in an
– Apr’ 2005 : PL
– Jul’ 2005 : DE
area of
– Nov’ 2005 : CY
freedom, • Infringements
security
and justice
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
Practical impact :
Full judicial involvement
• Direct Contacts allowed
• Multiple EAW requests (Eurojust)
• Difficulties with
Living in an
area of
freedom,
security
and justice
– Central Authorities : EE, IE
– Executive involvement : DK, DE, EE,
LV, LT
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
Practical impact : More efficient
Statistics
• + 3000 EAWs in 2004 > Extradition
•  Arrest (30%)  Surrender (60%)
Fewer Refusals
• Variety across EU (from 3 to 20 grounds !)
Living in an • Infringements :
area of
freedom,
security
and justice
– Unforeseen grounds: DK EL, IE, IT CY, MT NL PT UK
– Privileged Nationals: CZ, NL
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the
EAW
Practical impact : More expedient
Statistics
• 12 - 9 months  6 - 2 weeks
• 14 delays notified to Eurojust in 2004
Infringements : 1MS out of 5
Living in an
area of
freedom,
security
and justice
Practical difficulties
• Transmission after arrest (within 2 to 40 days)
• Authentification (secured fax or original)
• Translation (1 to 4 languages accepted)
• Abusive requests
Prospects : case law, experience, SIS II…
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
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)
Living in an
• Judicial review
area of
freedom, • Consent in 1 case out of 3 in 2004
security
and justice
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
Conclusions
Living in an
area of
freedom,
security
and justice
• Significant improvement of EU
judicial cooperation
• Infringements to be corrected
• Mutual trust building
• Furthering Mutual recognition
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs
The implementation of
the EAW
Further information
• FD : OJ L 190, 18.7.2002
• Council Website (national laws) :
http://ue.eu.int/cms3_Applications/applications/PolJu/details.asp?id=6
6&lang=EN&cmsid=720
• Commission Website / JLS pages :
http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/fsj/criminal/extradition/fsj_crim
inal_extradition_en.htm
Living in an • Reports : COM(2006)8 and SEC(2006)79,
area of 24.1.2006
freedom,
Thank you !
security
and justice
European Commission
Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs