The European arrest warrant has been in force since 2003. Much research has been carried out into whether the framework decision was implemented correctly and whether member states are able to use the instrument efficiently and cooperate with each other effectively. There has however been an absence of research on effective representation of suspects in the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) Scheme.

This project aims to provide some idea of how effective defence cases are from the particular perspective of the defence lawyer. It is a two year project. This report is an interim report to assist with consideration of the legislative initiative of the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and on the right to communicate upon arrest, Measure C on the Swedish Roadmap on procedural safeguards.

This is a joint project between JUSTICE, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA).
The project commenced in September 2010 with six member states. It expanded in the summer of 2011 to ten. The ten EU member states involved in the project are the UK (England and Scotland), Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Poland and Portugal.

To read the interim report please click here.

The full report is available by clicking here.

You will also find information on following link http://www.justice.org.uk/pages/european-arrest-warrant.html