04/12/2017 (Agence Europe) – The Chamber of the Flemish Council of Belgium has announced that it will return its decision on the extradition of Carles Puigdemont, the deposed President of Catalonia, and four of his ministers, on Thursday 14 December. Spain wishes to try the five politicians, against whom a European arrest warrant has been issued on the grounds of “rebellion” and “sedition”, acts that are not covered by decision 2002/584 on the European arrest warrant and the handover procedures and which do not appear to be punishable offences under Belgian law, which certain experts believe may have been mis-transposed from European law (see EUROPE 11899). The lawyers have two levels of appeals, should the Chamber of the Council agree to Spain's request, including one procedure that could take until mid-January, giving Puigdemont time to campaign for the regional elections of 21 December. (PH)