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

2. The implementation of 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 freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

3. 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 The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

4. Time for (early) evaluation 13 Jun’ 2002 Framework decision adopted 1 Jan’ 2004Entry into force of EAW Feb’ 20051st Evaluation by COM Jun’ 2005Council Conclusions Oct’ 2005Conference of Parliaments Jan’ 20061st Evaluation (revision IT) Jun’ 20062nd Evaluation by COM 2006-2009Mutual Evaluation by MS European Commission The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

5. Outlines I- FD legal added value a)Reduction of national barriers b)Simplification of proceedings c)Some limits of FD II- EAW practical implementation a)Almost purely judicial b)More efficient c)More expedient d)Respectful for individual guarantees European Commission The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

6. Legal added value of FD : Reduction of national barriers Ban on Executive involvement Removal of dual criminality check Surrender of nationals Limited grounds for refusal European Commission The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

7. Legal added value of FD : Simplified procedure Simple request Deadlines Individual guarantees European Commission The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

8. 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 freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

9. 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 freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

10. 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 The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

11. 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 The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

12. Practical impact of EAW : Almost transposed Full judicial involvement More efficient More expedient Individual guarantees under scrutiny European Commission The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

13. 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 The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

14. 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 The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

15. Practical impact : More efficient Statistics + 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 The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

16. Practical impact : More expedient Statistics 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 requests Prospects : case law, experience, SIS II… European Commission The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

17. 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 The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

18. Conclusions Significant improvement of EU judicial cooperation Infringements to be corrected Mutual trust building Furthering Mutual recognition European Commission The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs

19. 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 Reports : COM(2006)8 and SEC(2006)79, 24.1.2006 Thank you ! European Commission The implementation of the EAW Living in an area of freedom, security and justice Directorate-General Justice and Home affairs