Commission adopts proposal on transfer of criminal proceedings between Member States

Article summary

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Regulation on the transfer of criminal proceedings across Member States (MS), as the rise in cross-border crime has resulted in an increase in the number of instances where multiple MS have jurisdiction to prosecute the same case. The Commission recognised that parallel or multiple prosecutions was inefficient and detrimental to the rights of the individuals concerned. The proposal will ensure criminal proceedings occur in the ‘best-placed’ MS, for example where the major part of the crime occurred, and will also avoid cases of impunity where surrender under a European Arrest Warrant is refused. The proposed Regulation will now be discussed and agreed by the European Parliament and the Council before entering into force.