European Evidence Warrant an important step but procedural safeguards are still lacking

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 2nd Jun 2006

European Liberal Democrat Leader Graham Watson (author of Parliament's original report on the European Arrest Warrant in 2001) welcomed the agreement reached by the EU Justice Ministers last night to speed up evidence exchange among Member States in over 30 types of criminal offences as an important step towards guaranteeing the safety and security of Europe's citizens in the fight against organised crime.

However, the 3 years of negotiations necessary to reach yesterday's consensus as well as the last minute compromises watering down the agreement are regrettable.

"We should not forget the lessons learnt from the European Arrest Warrant which was plagued first by implementation delays and now by controversial court decisions limiting its scope" warned ALDE's leader Graham Watson.

"We are moving in the right direction. But by allowing Member States to refuse sharing evidence on crimes committed partly or fully on their territory we are shooting ourselves in the foot".

ALDE also finds the EU approach somewhat unbalanced as it still lacks the necessary safeguard measures which should be part of the legislative package along with the evidence and arrest warrants.

"To put to rest concerns about violations of fundamental rights in this measure, the Member States should move faster on the proposed framework decision on procedural rights which was also discussed at yesterday's ministerial meeting" concluded Graham Watson.