Brussels, 24/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the Council adopted without debate the framework decision relating to implementation within the European Union of decisions on freezing assets and on evidence. The framework decision aims to fix rules whereby a Member State recognises and implements on its territory decisions to freeze assets issued by a judiciary authority in another Member State within the framework of criminal procedure.
For a list of 32 offences (identical to that of the European arrest warrant: terrorism, people trading, corruption, racism …), and on condition that the infringement in question is liable to a sentence of at least three years in prison, the order will be implemented automatically, without the country it is addressed to being able to refuse by calling up the fact that the offences in question are not punished in the same way under its own legislation. For the other offences, it will always be possible to refuse by invoking the absence of dual incrimination.
Political agreement on the text was reached over one year ago, end February 2002, despite very strong reticence from Italy (EUROPE of 1 March 2002). The text has not been amended since except for a few details. Member States have two years in which to implement the directive.