29/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 27 June, the Council adopted a decision approving the signature of an agreement on a surrender procedure between the European Union, Iceland and Norway. This agreement, which seeks to replace extradition procedures between EU Member States and the two countries with a surrender procedure, inspired by the European Arrest Warrant, was already the subject of a political agreement at the JHA Council at the end of April. The Council also adopted the conclusions on the Fourth Eurojust Annual Report. The Council's attention focussed particularly on the development of Eurojust's capacity to act as the relevant European counterpart for judicial cooperation and coordination of cross-border and serious crime. Ministers also welcomed the significant increase in the caseload - 588 in 2005, a 54% increase on 2004 - and the fact that these were mainly complex cases.