Extradition specialist lawyers

International legal cooperation in criminal matters

The extradition process and European arrest warrant are often confused. The extradition consists about the process of handing over a person judicially requested by an State to another, outside the European Union, to be tried in the requesting country or to serve their sentence there. This procedure was established by the international legal cooperation, and contemplates two types, active and passive extradition. Active extradition is carried out by the State that requests it, while passive extradition is which corresponds to the State where the person requested is located and must resolve the request for surrender.

The extradition is contemplated in the article 13.3 of the Spanish constitution, stating that “it will only be granted in compliance with a treaty or the law, taking into account the principle of reciprocity. Political crimes are excluded from extradition, and acts of terrorism are not considered as such.”, that is, extradition is subject to the existence of bilateral treaties in force between the countries involved.

The states member of the European Union has the European arrest warrant (EAW), an instrument of international legal cooperation in criminal matters, according to which, by virtue of a judicial resolution, a state member must effectively deliver the requested person, so that he or she can face justice in the country that requires it. In summary: the European arrest warrant is the same as extradition, but applicable only to communitary citizens on EU, by virtue of the principle of mutual recognition of criminal resolutions of the States members.

The European arrest warrant was created by the Framework Decision 2002/584/JAI of the European Union, and was introduced in Spain through transposition to the Organic Law 2/2003, becoming as an instrument of mutual recognition and a factor of legal security within the European Union, in accordance with the Law 23/2014 of November 20.

Extradition hearing and surrender decision

The surrender of a requested person is subject to the essential requirement about the facts that motivate the issuance of the order, also constitute a crime in the legislation of the country that must solve the request, regardless of its elements or classification. Furthermore, it is imperative that these crimes be punished with a criminal penalty or security measure of prison at least twelve months, and are subject to a criminal penalty or security measure no less than four months of prison.

The consent of surrender and recognition of the facts by the requested person is also important. if the requested person does not give your consent, the Judge will summon the parties to hold a hearing where the admitted evidence relating to the concurrence of causes for denial or conditioning the surrender, may be practiced. The Judge will listen to the parties and will admit or deny the evidence proposed to prove the alleged causes.

It is imperative that persons detained for extradition or European arrest warrant are assisted by a lawyer specialized in extradition, it is the only guarantee to get the best chance of success in their process.

If you are facing an extradition or European arrest warrant process, contact us, we are undoubtedly the best criminal lawyers in extradition or European arrest warrant in Marbella and the Costa del Sol.

info@mercuryabogados.com

Telephone: +34 951 052 811

Whatsapp: +34 643 89 04 96

Law 23/2014 of November 20th, about mutual recognition of criminal resolutions in the European Union.

Organic Law 2/2003, of March 14the, complementary to the Law of the European arrest warrant