Brussels, 25/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 October in Strasbourg, MEPs adopted two consultation reports focusing on draft Council framework decisions aiming to improve mutual recognition of the rules whereby one member state supervises suspended sentences or alternative sanctions contained in a judgement given in another member state. The aim of the framework decision in the report by Ioannis Varvitsiotis (EPP-ED, Greece) is to facilitate a sentenced person's reintegration into society and facilitate their transfer to their member state of origin or residency when the sentence is passed in another member state. Last February, Poland finally agreed to lift its veto on the draft framework decision (EUROPE 9367).
The report by Maria da Assunção Esteves (EPP-ED, Portugal) involves a joint initiative from France and Germany and completes the other draft framework decision. This initiative aims to facilitate the enforcement of appropriate suspended sentences, alternative sanctions and conditional sentences. EU justice ministers reached a political agreement last June on the obligations resulting from sentences on offenders being monitored throughout Union territory (EUROPE 9446). (B.C.)