Extradition of war criminals to Denmark
29.2.2004
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0768/04
by Ole Sørensen (ELDR)
to the Commission
The European Arrest Warrant, which entered into force on 1 January 2004, is a very welcome initiative, in that it should not be possible for the [removal of] physical [controls at] borders between the Member States to be exploited by criminals in order to evade punishment. This problem has increased in recent years with the implementation of the rules on freedom of movement within the EU. To that extent the European Arrest Warrant is a step in the right direction.
However, I am concerned about the practical implementation of the Arrest Warrant, and wish to put the following questions to the Commission:
- What are the Commission’s plans with regard to the seven Member States which had not introduced the Arrest Warrant before the deadline of 31 December 2003? How many Member States have now introduced it?
- Can the Commission give assurances that, with the entry into force of the Arrest Warrant, it will be possible for Denmark to extradite war criminals from Germany in respect of whom extradition has been requested since the end of the Second World War?
- Is it true that the German police, referring to the Arrest Warrant, have already applied for the first extradition of a Danish citizen to Germany on charges of fraud? Is this possible at a time when Germany has still not yet implemented the Arrest Warrant?