The twelfth issue of Eurojust News focuses on the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), the most prominent mutual recognition tool. The EAW is celebrating 10 years of existence, so now is a good time to consider its strengths and weaknesses, especially as the call for reform within one year has been sounded by the European Parliament.
Jan Van Gaever, a Deputy Prosecutor General in Brussels, formally introduces this newsletter with a
discussion of the issues surrounding the EAW, including suggestions for its improvement and a possible
enhanced role for Eurojust. Following Mr Van Gaever’s introduction, we move on to Eurojust’s activities
in the area, case examples highlighting the role of Eurojust and the work of Eurojust’s Judicial Cooperation
Instruments Team.
The Spring Conference of the European Criminal Bar Association, held in Warsaw on 25-26 April, was
entitled Legal aid – privilege for criminals or essential for fair proceedings?. A forum such as this
provides an opportunity for practitioners and experts, including Eurojust, to exchange information on
topics that are relevant for the EU criminal justice area.
Eurojust hosted a strategic seminar in June, entitled The European Arrest Warrant: Which way forward?,
in which leading figures in Europe’s legislative sphere gave presentations that provided valuable
discussion points and background, and held workshops on a range of highly relevant topics. Professor
Anne Weyembergh gave the keynote speech at the seminar, and we were fortunate that she could spare
the time to provide Eurojust News with an interview. Baroness Sarah Ludford, a former Liberal Democrat MEP from the UK, gave a keynote speech at the
meeting of the Consultative Forum on the future of the European Arrest Warrant. Baroness Ludford was
also kind enough to provide an enlightening interview for this issue of Eurojust News. Professor Valsamis
Mitsilegas of University College London
provides his perspective of the first ten years of the
EAW. Judge Lars Bay Larsen of the Court of Justice
of the European Union (ECJ) shares his thoughts on
the development of the EAW, the protection of fundamental
human rights, and cases before the ECJ.
If you have any questions or comments concerning this issue of Eurojust News or suggestions for future issues, please contact our Press and PR Service. For previous issues, please see our document library.