Press Release: Detention: Commission calls on Member States to implement commonly agreed rules for people sentenced or awaiting trial in another EU country

According to a new European Commission report released on 5 February 2014, common rules on matters related to detention, adopted unanimously by Member States, have been implemented only in around half of the European Union's 28 countries.

The report examines the implementation of three separate EU Framework Decisions covering (1) the transfer of prisoners, (2) probation and alternative sanctions, (3) and the European Supervision Order.

The three EU laws enable prison sentences, probation decisions or alternative sanctions and pre-trial supervision measures to be executed in an EU country other than the one in which the person is sentenced or awaiting trial. This may be the country of nationality, habitual residence or another EU country with which the person has close ties.

The rules aim to improve mutual trust between judicial systems in Europe – an essential element of a common European area of justice. The three Framework Decisions are also important tools to further social rehabilitation of prisoners and reduce the use of pre-trial detention. Their proper implementation is crucial.

The Commission therefore urged all those Member States which have not yet done so to take swift measures to implement these EU laws fully.

ESO: Background information: European Commission seeks views on detention in the EU's area of justice http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-commission-seeks-views-on-detention-in-the-eus-area-of-justice/

ESO: Background information: Report on the implementation by the Member States of the Framework Decisions 2008/909/JHA, 2008/947/JHA and 2009/829/JHA on the mutual recognition of judicial decisions on custodial sentences or measures involving deprivation of liberty, on probation decisions and alternative sanctions and on supervision measures as an alternative to provisional detention http://www.europeansources.info/record/report-from-the-european-commission-to-the-european-parliament-and-the-council-on-the-implementation-by-the-member-states-of-the-framework-decisions-2008-909-jha-2008-947-jha-and-2009-829-jha-on-the/

---