JURIST - Paper Chase: EU nations urged towards uniformity in criminal procedures

[JURIST] The European Commission [official website] is urging the 25 European Union [official website, JURIST news archive] member states to implement compatible criminal law procedures in the wake of a study showing drastically different legal practices. While the study conducted by the University of Maastricht did not reveal any violations of the European Human Rights Convention [EU backgrounder], it highlighted the fact that EU members differ significantly on how police and courts deal with terrorist suspects and criminal charges. So far, only seven nations - Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Austria, France, Germany, and Spain - have started to share DNA and fingerprint evidence in order to pursue criminals internationally. Other nations, including Germany, have yet to ratify an agreement that will allow Europol [official website] to take part in domestic criminal investigations. European justice ministers meeting over the weekend to discuss the implications of the study promised [press release] that existing institutions relevant to the EU's internal security would be "strengthened, expanded, and made more effective and efficient." AP has more.

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