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The European Council set out the 2007 specific program on 'Criminal Justice' as part of the General Program on Fundamental Rights and Justice. The concrete objectives of the program include the promotion of the principle of mutual recognition and mutual trust, eliminating obstacles created by disparities between Member States judicial systems, and improving knowledge of Member States' legal and judicial systems in criminal matters, and the exchange and dissemination of good practice. As part of this program, the European Commission awarded a contract to the Institute of International Research on Criminal Policy to conduct the study. This book is the result of that study. The initial aim of the study was to obtain up-to-date information on the national laws of the EU Member States on the gathering and handling of evidence and to analyze that information in the light of recent developments in legislation governing cross-border transmission of evidence, in particular the 2008 European Evidence Warrant. In addition, it was the intention of the European Commission to initiate preparatory work on a legal instrument that would expand the scope of application of the European Evidence Warrant in order to further replace the existing regime of mutual legal assistance within the EU by a mechanism based on the mutual recognition principle. As a result, the study was broadened to also assess whether or not a mutual recognition-based EU mutual legal assistance regime is desirable and feasible. Whereas the Green Paper on obtaining evidence in criminal matters (issued in 2009 by the European Commission) raises general questions on the matter, this book provides an in-depth and full-scale overview of the current situation relating to cross-border gathering, obtaining, and admissibility of evidence in criminal matters between the EU Member States, as well as clear-cut future legal and policy options. This book is essential reading for EU policy makers, as well as judicial and law enforcement authorities throughout the EU and from a broader international context. It will be particularly appealing also to the research community and anyone involved in or taking an interest in criminal policy initiatives in the EU.
This book deals with the gathering of evidence in cross-border investigations in Europe. The issue of obtaining evidence in and from European countries has been among the most debated issues of EU cross-border cooperation in criminal matters over the last two decades, going through periods of intensive discussions and showing an extraordinary adaptability to the evolution of EU legislation for criminal matters. On the other hand, the prosecution and investigations of cross-border cases pose unprecedented challenges in the European scenario, characterized by the increasing flow and activity of citizens over the territory of more than one country and therefore by the need to lay the foundations of a transcultural criminal justice system. The book analyses this complex topic starting with the current perspectives of EU legislation, thus providing a critical analysis of the legislative initiative aimed at introducing a new tool for gathering almost any type of evidence in other Member States, i.e., the European Investigation Order. On a second level, this study deals with the solution models and human rights challenges posed by the increasingly intensive dialogues between domestic and supranational case laws, and formulates essential guidelines for setting up a fair transnational enquiry system in Europe.
Evidence plays a crucial role in criminal proceedings. Nowadays, the European Union (EU) has a comprehensive legal framework in the area of judicial cooperation in criminal matters. Instruments based on the principle of mutual recognition constitute the core of this framework. The cross-border gathering of evidence follows, depending on the instrument of cooperation chosen, either the law of the executing state (locus regit actum principle) or that of the issuing state (forum regit actum principle). Throughout the last decades, cross-border criminal proceedings are increasing both in numbers and complexity. For instance, in 2019, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) received requests for assistance in nearly 8 000 cross-border criminal investigations, representing an increase of 17 % compared to 2018. However, there are still substantial differences in the way Member States regulate the gathering and admissibility of criminal evidence. These differences may constitute an obstacle in cross-border (EU) cases, because the admissibility of evidence is primarily a matter for regulation by national law and it is for the national courts to assess such evidence. The objective of this study is to analyse existing national rules on the collection, and (in)admissibiliy of evidence and identify problems or gaps in the context of cross-border (EU) situations with a view to inform the Commission's assessment of the need for specific and more comprehensive EU-wide rules in relation to the admissibility of criminal evidence in cross-border (EU) cases. The study covers the period from 2010 until March 2022 and covers all EU Member States. It provides an overview of the existing national rules applicable to cross-border (EU) gathering and (in)admissibility of criminal evidence and their application, highlighting commonalities and divergences. On the basis of this legal mapping and stakeholder consultation, the study identifies the existing problems and the underlying drivers and investigates possible options to address these problems. The data presented in the report is based on desk research and stakeholder consultation carried out through scoping interviews, a survey and semi-structured interviews. These were completed by two case studies, which investigated some of the issues linked to the admissibility of criminal evidence, respectively on inadmissibility of cross-border evidence and on the defence's inability to challenge court decisions on the (in)admissibility of criminal evidence gathered in another Member State.
In order to develop an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, the European Union is adopting measures to enhance international cooperation in criminal matters among the police and judicial authorities of its Member States. The adopted instruments concerning evidentiary matters-such as the gathering of evidence in another EU Member State-seem to serve the main purpose of assisting the authorities in investigating and prosecuting (cross-border) crime. This raises the question to what extent the defence is also given the possibility to gather information and materials in another EU Member State with the aim of preparing and presenting its case at trial and, in particular, whether the current (EU) legal framework on cross-border evidence gathering meets the requirements of the principle of equality of arms. This book addresses these questions by, first of all, discussing the application of the principle of equality of arms, as enshrined in both Article 6 ECHR and Article 47 CFR, in cross-border criminal cases. Secondly, it provides an overview of the European treaties and legislation on cross-border evidence gathering to explain to what extent they give opportunities to the defence to request the assistance of foreign authorities in obtaining specific information and materials in another EU Member State, and also to participate in the execution of these requests. In addition, in order to understand how the European treaties and legislation on cross-border evidence gathering are applied by the EU Member States, this book includes a comparative study of three national jurisdictions: the Netherlands, England and Wales, and Italy. Furthermore, it analyzes the criminal justice system of the International Criminal Court as a potential source of inspiration for new EU legislation to strengthen the ability of the defence to obtain evidence in another EU Member State. This book is part of the Pompe series, which contains publications by staff members of the Willem Pompe Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology in Utrecht, and by authors closely aligned to the school of thought for which the Institute is known. (Series: Willem Pompe Institute, Vol. 85) [Subject: Criminology, EU Law]
In the era of globalisation, cross-border crimes are becoming increasingly common. The nature of these crimes is complex, and cross-border evidence exchange is, therefore, crucial to the successful prosecution of these offences. The exchange of evidence between countries can provide invaluable assistance in solving crimes that have an international dimension. The European Investigation Order (EIO) allows judicial authorities to request evidence more quickly and easily than via traditional instruments. The EIO has become the primary legal tool for gathering trans-border evidence, replacing the traditional Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) conventions previously used. However, the EIO is not the only pertinent legal instrument for cross-border evidence gathering within the EU. Accordingly, professionals need a clear understanding of this subject. Exchanging evidence among judicial authorities in the EU Member States presupposes twoessential components. First, there must be a secure communication channel. This is provided by e-CODEX, which offers a European digital infrastructure for secure cross-border communication in the field of justice. Recently (May 30th, 2022), the e-CODEX system became the digital backbone of EU judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters on the basis of Regulation 2022/850. To achieve effective evidence exchange via EIO/MLA legal instruments, there must also be a communication tool. This is provided by the e-Evidence Digital Exchange System, which is capable of managing any EIO/MLA procedures/instruments, from the e-Forms (EIO Annexes) to the whole business logic, on the basis of the e-CODEX system. Finally, it is essential to use a uniform standard for the representation of evidence data and metadata, so as to streamline the process and make investigations more effective, in particular when it comes to complicated criminal cases where it is key to find either correlations amongdifferent cases or to extract multiple types of data from the same inspection. The importance of cross-border evidence exchange in criminal matters cannot be overstated. This book addresses all the above-mentioned aspects, offering an up-to-date overview of scenarios in cross-border judicial cooperation from both juridical and technical standpoints.
Any effort to gather evidence may prove pointless without ensuring its admissibility. Nevertheless, the EU, while developing instruments for smooth gathering of evidence in criminal matters, is not taking much effort to enhance its admissibility. Due to the lack of common rules in this matter, gathering and use of evidence in the EU cross-border context is still governed by the domestic law of the member states concerned. This may lead to situations where, given the differences between legal systems across the EU, evidence collected in one member state will not be admissible in other member states. Due to the fact that the Lisbon Treaty opened the possibility to adopt minimum rules concerning, among other things, the mutual admissibility of evidence, this research investigates the concept of minimum standards designed to enhance mutual admissibility of evidence in the EU. Through a study of two investigative measures, telephone tapping and house search, the author examines whether coming to various common minimum standards is feasible and whether compliance with these standards would finally shape the as yet nonexistent concept of the free movement and mutual recognition of evidence in criminal matters in the EU. Essential reading for both national and EU policy makers, scholars and practitioners involved in cross-border gathering of evidence in the EU.
This book provides a systematic and analytical account of the problems facing transnational criminal justice. It details actual problems arising in the transnational prosecution of crimes; assesses existing obstacles on admissibility of evidence; in particular with regard to electronic evidence, assesses the impact that the impediment of free circulation of evidence has on fundamental rights of the defendants facing criminal trial; and finally drafts a proposal for the future of regulation for this complex topic. The book therefore contributes to the debate on the creation of an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice in the EU. It offers insights on how to outline the main general rules that could be adopted at EU level in a manner that adequately balances the need for efficiency in prosecution and the protection of human rights. With contributions of renowned experts in the field, the book addresses the discussion of a potential legislative proposal with the help of insight into the experience and conceptual context of the rules of evidence at the national level. The legislative proposal was adopted by the European Law Institute, who supported the work reflected in this book.
This volume offers a general overview on the handling and regulating electronic evidence in Europe, presenting a standard for the exchange process. Chapters explore the nature of electronic evidence and readers will learn of the challenges involved in upholding the necessary standards and maintaining the integrity of information. Challenges particularly occur when European Union member states collaborate and evidence is exchanged, as may be the case when solving a cybercrime. One such challenge is that the variety of possible evidences is so wide that potentially anything may become the evidence of a crime. Moreover, the introduction and the extensive use of information and communications technology (ICT) has generated new forms of crimes or new ways of perpetrating them, as well as a new type of evidence. Contributing authors examine the legal framework in place in various EU member states when dealing with electronic evidence, with prominence given to data protection and privacy issues. Readers may learn about the state of the art tools and standards utilized for treating and exchanging evidence, and existing platforms and environments run by different Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) at local and central level. Readers will also discover the operational point of view of LEAs when dealing with electronic evidence, and their requirements and expectations for the future. Finally, readers may consider a proposal for realizing a unique legal framework for governing in a uniform and aligned way the treatment and cross border exchange of electronic evidence in Europe. The use, collection and exchange of electronic evidence in the European Union context and the rules, practises, operational guidelines, standards and tools utilized by LEAs, judges, Public prosecutors and other relevant stakeholders are all covered in this comprehensive work. It will appeal to researchers in both law and computer science, as well as those with an interest in privacy, digital forensics, electronic evidence, legal frameworks and law enforcement.
The landscape of cross-border evidence gathering in criminal matters in the EU has become blurred. Non-traditional actors, such as administrative authorities and intelligence services, have joined traditional judicial and law enforcement authorities in a domain which used to be looked upon as predominantly judicial cooperation territory. Criminal justice and administrative finalities run the risk of being constantly mixed up. This creates problems in light of the separation of powers, adequate legal and procedural protection in criminal matters and data protection. Vermeulen believes that restoring the balance requires stepping away from traditional authority-based thinking and policy-making. He suggests to embrace 'criminal justice finality' as the key normative marker for EU cross-border intelligence, information and evidence gathering and exchange in criminal matters. The traditional distinction between judicial and police cooperation in criminal matters can no longer be upheld, he concludes.
This fifth volume of the Governance of Security (GofS) Research Paper series addresses a wide variety of topical issues focusing on European criminal justice and financial and economic crime. The first cluster of articles is concerned with European criminal justice matters particularly relating to EU mutual recognition, such as: conceptualization, unwanted effects in the context of prisoner transfer and sentence execution, impact for cross-border gathering and use of forensic expert evidence, and interrogational fairness standards. A second cluster of articles addresses the subjects of financial and economic crime, ranging from informal economy (among street children) to formal/informal economy (vulnerability of the hotel and catering industry to crime) and white collar crime phenomena like (transnational) environmental crime and corruption. A final cluster groups together a variety of selected topical issues, including juvenile offending and mental disorders, desistance theories, and sexually transmitted infections.