SUBMISSION TO THE HOME OFFICE ON THE EUROPEAN INVESTIGATION ORDER

Fair Trial’s International’s submission to the Home Office examines the Member States’ initiative for a new evidence-gathering instrument: the European Investigation Order (EIO).

The submission expresses our concerns about the EIO, which would significantly widen the scope of evidence able to be requested by Member States while limiting the grounds for refusal. FTI argues that the current proposal lacks basic safeguards to ensure the protection of fundamental rights. The submission questions the need for such an instrument, while making positive suggestions as to how the text of the draft Directive could be improved.