Brussels, 21/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 March, the European Parliament (EP) justice and civil liberties committee adopted its position on one of the European Commission's flagship proposals on the rights of suspects in criminal proceedings - the so-called “letter of rights” which will give anyone suspected or accused of having committed a crime information on his or her procedural rights in an easy-to-understand language.
To this right, MEPs added the right of access to medical care and the right to contact close family or friends, a press release from the committee says. Over 8 million criminal trials take place in the EU every year. In some member states, suspects receive only oral information about their procedural rights, while, in others, information is provided in writing, but is technical, complex and provided only on request, the committee says. The proposed law would ensure that police and prosecutors provide suspects with basic information about their rights, such as the right to consult a lawyer (the Commission is due to bring forward a proposal on this in May) or to have interpretation and translation if needed, the last chapter upon which political agreement has already been reached.
MEPs also insisted that those suspected or accused of a crime or his/her lawyer should have access to evidence in the case that is relevant for determining the lawfulness of the arrest or detention. This material may be refused only “exceptionally”, such as a threat to the security of a member state, on the basis of a “reasoned decision by a competent judicial authority”. MEPs added that this letter of rights should apply to suspected and accused persons on EU territory “regardless of their legal status, citizenship or nationality”.
Negotiations on an agreement with the Council will begin before the end of the month, the committee says. The Council has some reservations as to whether or not the letter of rights should be binding in nature. (S.P./transl.rt)