International Cooperation In Criminal Matters

In the European Union, international cooperation in criminal matters has grown exponentially over the past few decades. Importantly, there are a wide variety of authorities involved therein, rendering the traditional distinction between police and judicial cooperation as outdated. Furthermore, its rapid growth exposed this policy field to inconsistencies and incoherence. Additionally, despite the wave of new legislation, important lacunae can be identified, setting important challenges for the future. The combination of these issues clarifies the title of this book: there is a pressing need to rethink international cooperation in criminal matters. In answer to a call from the European Commission, the contributors of this book have designed a comprehensive methodological framework to review the entirety of international cooperation in criminal matters, combining desktop reviews, expert consultations, Member State questionnaires, and focus group meetings in each of the Member States to obtain a comprehensive overview of the currently experienced obstacles and future policy options that are both needed and feasible. Over 150 individuals from different backgrounds contributed to the study, including academics, lawyers, policy makers, police, customs, intelligence services, prosecution, judiciary, correctional authorities, Ministries of Justice, and Home Affairs. The book provides an overview of the research findings and the recommendations formulated. These findings include, but are not limited to: (1) a helicopter view on cooperation with criminal justice finality, (2) a clear demarcation of the role of the judicial authorities, (3) a comprehensive review of refusal grounds, including proportionality and capacity concerns, (4) an assessment of gaps in the current body of instruments regulating international cooperation in criminal matters and possible remedies thereto, (5) a well-considered further development of Eurojust, and (6) ensuring EU wide effect of mere domestic actions. This book represents the first overall analysis of the entirety of international cooperation in criminal matters in the EU. As essential reading, it is an analysis that moves beyond the actors, bringing logic back, footed in reality. (Series: Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy [IRCP] - No. 42)

Despite of the United Nations (UN) efforts to encourage the fight against transnational organized crime (TOC) , the most effective model of cooperation nowadays comes from the European Union (EU). Aware of the threat represented by the TOC, the EU developed, in 1999, a “comprehensive strategy on tackling TOC” . Through this innovative approach, audacious and dynamic tools were built, both in theory as in practice. Having established the “principle of mutual recognition of judicial decisions” as the cornerstone of cooperation, the EU created the European Arrest Warrant, which was responsible for breaching all parameters of cooperation then known. A solid operational structure also contributed to enhance cooperation, through the enlargement of the Europol’s mandate and establishment of new bodies to foment judicial cooperation . Considering the latest EU’s legal improvements in the field, the South American region could possibly benefit from the implementation of the “principle of mutual recognition”, in terms of an arrest warrant. With regard to the operative structure, the establishment of a police force, in the model of Europol, could possibly profit the researched region. Initia Via Editora

The individual's position as a "subject," commonplace in national proceedings, is not at all clear when the need for extradition, mutual assistance or some other form of international cooperation arises in the context of domestic criminal proceedings. This book analyzes traditional concepts in which only two dimensions are represented, namely, that of the requesting and that of the requested state. Beyond this, the authors searched for a full three-dimensionality as well. The general approach was: If the individual is recognized as having his or her own subjective, substantive and procedural rights, be they conferred by international treaties or conventions or simply by municipal law (here, especially, constitutional guarantees), the legal relationships under study can no longer be seen as two-dimensional. The project focussed not only on extradition but also on other forms of international cooperation in criminal matters, including the enforcement of sanctions. The "choice of forum" came to be seen as a special topic and turned out to be an issue of paramount importance. In addition, our study of international administrative cooperation allowed us to cover some crucial gray areas that would not otherwise have been identified, e.g., police cooperation and international cooperation in tax matters. The book contains national reports on Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States as well as a report on the European Union.

'Each State Party shall cooperate with other States Parties and afford the appropriate form of legal assistance ...' These words mark the beginning of the obligation for states to work together to enforce a multilateral normative treaty. Terrorism and transnational criminal activity heighten the need for harmonisation and improved coordination between enforcement agencies internationally. This volume addresses current national, regional and international practice from the perspective of 'lessons learned' by government officials, private practitioners, prosecutors, police and customs officials, staff members of international courts or treaty-implementing bodies, and academics who gathered in an OPCW international symposium in February 2001. Their work has since been updated and supplemented to include considerations emerging in the aftermath of 11 September 2001. Topics include problems with divergent national implementing legislation, concurrent jurisdiction, extradition, the role of victims and witnesses, export controls, protection of national security or confidential business information in judicial proceedings, and terrorism.

'Each State Party shall cooperate with other States Parties and afford the appropriate form of legal assistance ...' These words mark the beginning of the obligation for states to work together to enforce a multilateral normative treaty. Terrorism and transnational criminal activity heighten the need for harmonisation and improved coordination between enforcement agencies internationally. This volume addresses current national, regional and international practice from the perspective of 'lessons learned' by government officials, private practitioners, prosecutors, police and customs officials, staff members of international courts or treaty-implementing bodies, and academics who gathered in an OPCW international symposium in February 2001. Their work has since been updated and supplemented to include considerations emerging in the aftermath of 11 September 2001. Topics include problems with divergent national implementing legislation, concurrent jurisdiction, extradition, the role of victims and witnesses, export controls, protection of national security or confidential business information in judicial proceedings, and terrorism.

For over a century states have co-operated in providing evidence for use in civil trials in other countries. The growth of international crimes such as drug-trafficking, money-laundering, terrorism, and insider-trading now pose a substantial threat to the economies and stability of states, and governments and international organizations have been quick to expand past experience into a variety of responses - both diplomatic and institutional - to the new international crimes. This book sets out the law applicable to co-operation between states in these areas, and investigates the relevant practice and case law. It discusses both the civil and criminal dimensions of international co-operation. The new edition incorporates the vast number of developments that have taken place since the previous edition published in 2002, including the European Union's resolve to build an area of freedom, security, and justice, and the recent major update of the Commonwealth Scheme.