Brussels, 31/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Justice and Home Affairs Council of 28 and 29 November is to give its agreement for initiating negotiations with Norway and Iceland on their participation in the European arrest warrant. EU15 ambassadors have given their agreement at Coreper level to allow the Presidency a brief to negotiate, says one diplomat. Several Member States were reticent about non-EU countries adhering to this new procedure for the recognition and implementation of decisions for arresting persons indicted or guilty and handing them over to the justice of the Member State that so requests (without possibility of refusal if the act is on the list of 32 serious crimes approved by the Fifteen, liable to 3 years imprisonment: see EUROPE of 7 December 2001). Agreement was given on condition that there be regular monitoring by the Fifteen to ensure there is no incompatibility with their constitution. The European arrest warrant must take effect on 1 January 2004. The United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Luxembourg have pledged to implement it during the first half of 2003.