As regards the family law aspects raised in the Honourable Members' written question, the Commission would refer the Honourable Members to its answers to previous Written Questions E‑001894/2010, E‑000908/2010 and E‑002998/2010 by Ms Muscardini and E‑009942/2010 by Ms Muscardini and Mr Mauro(1).

In respect of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), the Honourable Members might note that the Framework Decision on the EAW and surrender procedures between Member States(2) provides that an EAW can only be issued for the purposes of conducting a criminal prosecution or executing a custodial sentence, and the act for which the person is sought must attract a sentence of at least 12 months or, where a sentence has been handed down, that the sentence is for at least four months. In addition, Member States have agreed in Council that the issuing judicial authority should apply a proportionality check by considering the seriousness of the offence, length of sentence and the costs and benefits of executing an arrest warrant. This is reflected in the amended handbook on how to issue an EAW(3) and was endorsed by the Commission in its recent report on the implementation of the EAW(4). Therefore, any decision to issue an EAW taken by German courts is subject to the above parameters and is a matter for the judicial authority taking into account the particular circumstances of each case.

(1) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/QP-WEB (2) 2002/584/JHA: Council Framework Decision of 13 June 2002 on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States — Statements made by certain Member States on the adoption of the framework Decision, OJ L 190, 18.7.2002. (3) Council document 17195/10 COPEN 275. (4) COM(2011)175 final.