Brussels, 16/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 16 June, the European Parliament agreed to the introduction of new laws to give EU passport-holders the right to interpreting services and the translation into their own language of crucial documents in criminal proceedings in another member state, adopting a report by Sarah Ludford (ALDE, UK) on the draft directive by 637 to 21 with 19 abstentions. The new laws will apply as soon as an individual has been informed that they are suspected of committing a crime and will last until the end of the criminal proceedings. The EU27 will have three years to transpose the EU rules into their own legal systems and will be required to pay the interpreting and translation costs irrespective of the outcome of the proceedings. The United Kingdom and Ireland are taking part, but Denmark has opted out. (B.C./transl.fl)