RESPONSE FROM VIVIANE REDING TO LETTER ABOUT THE EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT

Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, responds to letter from Fair Trials International on the European Arrest Warrant.

Ms Reding writes:

"I welcome and appreciate your support for the Commission's important work on procedural rights for suspects and accused persons, which I have made a priority of my tenure. I am also grateful to receive a clear statement of your concerns in relation to the operation of the European Arrest Warrant (EA W). I agree that while we need the efficient and effective extradition system provided by the EA W in a Europe of open borders, there is considerable room for improvement in the operation of the EAW system."