Brussels, 15/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - Poland has finally agreed to lift its veto on a proposal aimed at the transferral of prisoners within the EU, said Brigitte Zypries, German Minister of Justice, during Thursday's Justice and Home Affairs Council. The draft framework decision aims to facilitate the transfer of prisoners to the member states of which they are nationals or in which they have permanent residence. The proposal mainly aims to ensure better reinsertion of prisoners in countries where they have links. During the last Justice and Home Affairs Council in December, Poland was the only member state among the 25 at the time to have blocked a text on the transferral of prisoners within the EU (EUROPE 9321). According to the text, the member states are under an obligation to take back their residents (whether they are nationals of that country or third country nationals), also when they have been found guilty in another EU member state. On the other hand, states would be compelled to allow persons residing in another Union country to leave. It should be noted that the proposal will only apply to persons found guilty in the future. After further talks, the compromise promised by the French delegation won over Polish reticence. It suggests in substance that, during five years, Poland should be able to refuse to take the automatic transfer of prisoners into account. The compromise also provides for Warsaw to be able to notify the Council at any moment of its wish not to use this derogation. (bc)