Tech & Rights

Serious Problems Persist With European Arrest Warrants

Research from Spain shows that European Arrest Warrants are often issued for minor offenses, such as stealing CD players from cars.

by Rights International Spain

"Beyond Surrender" is an EU-wide project that has spent the past two years looking at the use of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) and its impact on the life of surrendered people and their families.

An EAW is issued by a judge or prosecutor in one EU member state (the "issuing member state") to seek the arrest and surrender of a person present in another (the "executing member state) to stand trial or serve a sentence.

Liberties member Rights International Spain (RIS) has been the partner organization in Spain tasked with conducting the research, identifying and monitoring cases of surrendered people to Spain pursuant to EAWs issued by Spanish judicial authorities. See the full research report here.

Findings

Despite an extensive search, RIS could find no record of courts using, prior to issuing an EAW, a measure to obtain an interview with a suspect through other means provided for in the law, such as video-conferencing.

This means that, in many cases, the EAW is used disproportionately despite the fact that the courts have alternative measures (i.e. judicial cooperation). RIS learned of two cases where the suspect had been unable to convince a Spanish court to allow video-conferencing instead of a surrender for an interview. RIS also found one case where a person was surrendered from Romania, yet the trial in Spain was carried out via video-conference, the surrendered person being held in a prison in a different city.

The research also concluded that EAWs are being issued for minor offenses and without proper consideration of its proportionality. The research found one case, for example, of an EAW being issued for a person alleged to have stolen two radio CD players from two cars.

Defense lawyers shut out

EAWs are still disproportionately used in the initial stages of investigations as a measure to ensure suspects can be interviewed or to locate a person in order to summon him or her to trial, when the law does not allow it. RIS found cases of surrender to Spain merely for interviews, after which the surrendered person was released with no means of getting home.

During the research, RIS did not find any cases where the lawyers participated in the process prior to the issuing of an EAW. The participation of the lawyers is fundamental to guarantee an effective defense, especially by challenging the issuance of an EAW at a preliminary phase or requesting the adoption of alternative measures.

See regional comparative booklet.

See other national research reports.

Donate to liberties

Your contribution matters

As a watchdog organisation, Liberties reminds politicians that respect for human rights is non-negotiable. We're determined to keep championing your civil liberties, will you stand with us? Every donation, big or small, counts.

We’re grateful to all our supporters

Your contributions help us in the following ways

► Liberties remains independent
► It provides a stable income, enabling us to plan long-term
► We decide our mission, so we can focus on the causes that matter
► It makes us stronger and more impactful

Your contribution matters

As a watchdog organisation, Liberties reminds politicians that respect for human rights is non-negotiable. We're determined to keep championing your civil liberties, will you stand with us? Every donation, big or small, counts.

Subscribe to stay in

the loop

Why should I?

You will get the latest reports before everyone else!

You can follow what we are doing for your right!

You will know about our achivements!

Show me a sample!