European arrest warrant and its procedure as an instrument of international cooperation

Abstract

The European arrest warrant is undoubtedly a result of the introduction of cross-border simplified court proceedings. In its regulations, suspects and accused persons are transferred for the purpose of prosecuting offenses or executing a sentence of deprivation of liberty or a detention order involving the deprivation of liberty. A European arrest warrant issued by a judicial authority of a Member State is valid throughout the territory of the European Union. The beginning of its application dates from January 1, 2004. It replaced the extradition procedure, which was previously applied by the Member States of the Union. The mechanism of the warrant is based on the principle of mutual recognition of judicial decisions and is applied in all EU Member States. It is based on the principle of direct contact between judicial authorities. Authorities using the order are obliged to respect the procedural rights of suspects and defendants, that is, the right to information, to a lawyer, to an interpreter, etc.