Brussels, 31/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Parliament will call on the Council to align the legislations of the Member States relating to the fight against terrorism, and facilitate the sentencing of criminals - guilty of terrorism and a certain number of other serious offences - by replacing extradition by a European arrest warrant. End-September of beginning-October, the European Commission will propose two texts on these two issues. The aim is said to be to reach a political agreement at the Laeken Summit, before Spain, especially attached to the adoption of cooperation instruments against terrorism, tries to have these two very sensitive texts adopted in the first half of next year, under its Presidency.
The draft report by the Chairman of the Committee on Public Liberties, Graham Watson (British Liberal) calls for the adoption of four instruments:
The Commission will propose two texts, that will certainly be on all these issues, but should also comprise differences in relation to what the EP will be calling for. The first text will be a draft framework-decision on the fight against terrorism, with a definition of terrorism and the different forms it takes, taking account of aggravating circumstances (the particularly gravity of an act) and attenuating circumstances (cooperation of those who "repent") to propose a scale of sanctions. The text should also tackle the implication of moral persons, and turn to the protection and assistance of victims of terrorism. The Commission's second text will propose the creation of a European arrest warrant, like the EP should be calling for. EUROPE has reason to believe that the Commission will not be proposing a list of crimes, but instead propose that all offences that may be the subject of extradition be concerned by the new procedure.