Improving Mutual Recognition of European Arrest Warrants through Common Practical Guidelines

ended

Context & overall objectives An EAW does not always contain the necessary information or is perceived to lack that information. In such cases, the executing JA (judicial authority) will request supplementary information, which leads to inevitable delays and extra costs, to possible non-compliance with the time limits and to a possible refusal of surrender if the request is not honoured completely or in a timely fashion. (Perceived) defects in the information provided by an EAW can have a negative impact on the EAW’s objectives of simplifying and accelerating judicial cooperation and on the mutual trust which should exist between JAs/MS. This project intends to identify the causes of (perceived) defects in EAWs and to prevent, as far as possible, those (perceived) defects from occurring, by providing for common practical (cp) guidelines for filling in and assessing EAWs. In this way, the project strives to achieve the overall objectives of - improving issuing/execution of EAWs - improving mutual recognition of EAWs - improving mutual trust between JAs/MS. Work planned & main achievements Activities - formulating/answering questionnaire - analysing answers, identifying common problems, formulating solutions - holding meetings with partners - developing practical tools and best practices, making recommendations to MS and Union legislator - organising a European symposium These activities will attain the following main achievements: - research report - cp Guidelines for issuing and executing EAWs - Proposal for digital interactive cp Guidelines and e-learning - European symposium - Recommendations - Proposal for dissemination, evaluation, implementation Results & Impacts Expected results - faster procedures - lower costs - fewer refusals - increased mutual understanding/better communication - strengthened position requested persons Benefitting (impact) - issuing/executing JAs of all MS - requested persons - MS/Union legislator - Union itself