1. European Arrest Warrant – Actual Challenges
Dr. Christian Johnson
Belgrade, November 2011

2. European Arrest Warrant (EAW)
a) History of the EAW
b) Key features of the EAW
c) Follow-up (reports / evaluation / handbook / statistics)
2. Actual challenges
a) Double criminality
b) Grounds for refusal
c) Proportionality
d) Miscellaneous
3. Summary
Belgrade, November 2011

3. EAW: History 1957 Council of Europe Convention on Extradition
Article 1: Obligation to extradite
Article 2: Extraditable offences / Dual criminality
Article 3: Political offences
Article 6: No obligation to extradite nationals
Belgrade, November 2011

4. EAW: History 19 September 2001: Commission proposal
6/7 December 2001: Political agreement
13 June 2002: Formal adoption
Belgrade, November 2011

5. EAW: Key features System of surrender between judicial authorities
Principle of mutual recognition
New terminology
Central authorities: only practical and administrative assistance
Deadlines for decision and surrender
Belgrade, November 2011

6. EAW: Key features List offences / double criminality
Surrender of own nationals
Belgrade, November 2011

7. EAW: Follow-up Implementation Commission reports
Evaluation of all Member States
Experts on the EAW
European handbook how to issue an EAW
Statistical data
Belgrade, November 2011

8. Actual challenges: Double criminality
Article 2
ECJ C-303/05 – „Advocaten voor de Wereld“ – on principle of legality
Article 5 No. 3: return of own nationals – CoE 1983 Convention or EAW?
(FD 2008/909)
Belgrade, November 2011

9. Actual challenges: Reasons for refusal
Mandatory grounds
Optional grounds: „The executing judicial authority may refuse …“
Dispute: Discretion for judicial authority or FD adressed to national legislator?
Belgrade, November 2011

10. Actual challenges: Reasons for refusal
Optional ground: Article 4 No. 2 – prosecution for the same act in the executing Member State
Optional ground: Article 4 No. 4 –
criminal prosecution statute-barred and own jurisdiction
Belgrade, November 2011

11. Actual challenges: Reasons for refusal
Optional ground: Article 4 No. 6 -
EAW for execution of a sentence against national or resident of executing Member State
Request for takeover? 1983 CoE Convention?
No problem: National / but: resident?
ECJ – C-123/08 – „Wolzenburg“
Belgrade, November 2011

12. Actual challenges: Proportionality
Article 2, but additional proportionality test in the issuing Member State? In the executing Member State?
Specifically: EAWs to obtain testimony from suspects?
Alternative: mla, video-conferencing
Belgrade, November 2011

13. Miscellaneous: Judicial authorities
Framework Decision: System of surrender between judicial authorities
No political influence
Belgrade, November 2011

14. Miscellaneous: Time limits (receipt of EAW)
No provision in the FD
Some Member States: 40 days (= 1957 Convention)
Other Member States: various deadlines
Belgrade, November 2011

15. Miscellaneous: Language requirements
Translation into the official language of the executing Member State
Future: one working language?
Belgrade, November 2011

16. Miscellaneous: Accessory surrender
1957 Convention: possible
EAW: no provision
Practice of Member States: diverging
Belgrade, November 2011

17. Miscellaneous: Time limits (decision/surrender)
EAW Article 17: decision 60 days after arrest
EAW Article 23: physical surrender 10 days after final decision
Germany: practical problems with 10 day-deadline
Belgrade, November 2011

18. Miscellaneous: Prison conditions
European Convention on Human Rights
Belgrade, November 2011

19. Summary
System of effective and efficient surrender among 27 Member States
No consent: 48 days / consent: days
Grounds for refusal / proportionality
Belgrade, November 2011

20. European Arrest Warrant – Actual Challenges
All information:
Thank you for your attention!
Dr. Christian Johnson
Head of Department
Extradition, Mutual Legal Assistance, Enforcement of Sentences, EAW
Federal Office of Justice / Bundesamt für Justiz
Adenauerallee 99 – 103, D Bonn, Germany
Tel. 49 (0)
Belgrade, November 2011