The aim of this report is to inform both practitioners and policymakers of the main difficulties encountered in the practical application of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) on the basis of Eurojust’s casework and to highlight, where relevant, the role that the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) has played in overcoming such difficulties. Between 2017 and 2020, 2 235 cases involving EAWs were registered at Eurojust. The report clearly indicates that there are still several ongoing issues with the use of the EAW and that Eurojust has played an important role in facilitating cooperation and ensuring coordination in both bilateral and multilateral cases involving EAWs.

Based on Eurojust’s casework, solutions and best practices were identified, but the report also stresses some challenges that one should be aware of and sets out the main conclusions reached and recommendations proposed. Some of the conclusions of this report, particularly those that touch upon core features of the principle of mutual recognition, are similar to those of other Eurojust reports on other mutual recognition instruments. Such issues might therefore require a more horizontal approach.