Language rights a major leap forward in EU justice (Enfield Liberal Democrats)

Enfield Liberal Democrats <info@enfieldlibdems.org.uk>

Language rights a major leap forward in EU justice

June 10, 2010 8:28 AM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

The European Parliament's Justice & Civil Liberties committee has approved the text of a new much-needed EU law on language rights for defendants in criminal proceedings. London MEP Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat European justice spokeswoman, acted as 'rapporteur' steering the European Parliament's position on the directive and negotiating the final version with EU governments.

The new directive has now just to be endorsed by all MEPs in plenary vote next week to become law; it has already been signed off by governments, including the UK. It provides that a suspect or accused questioned by police or involved in a trial in an EU country where they do not understand the local language has the right to interpretation and translation services. Sarah, who is also patron of the legal NGO Fair Trials International and involved in many individual cases of miscarriage of justice, said:

"This represents a major, though long overdue, leap forward in criminal justice standards across the EU. As EU including UK citizens take increasing advantage of EU free movement rights to travel and work abroad, the numbers involved in cross-border criminal charges mount. Getting fair trials has long been a top priority for MEPs and for me personally."

"Enabling people to fully understand police questioning and court trial will allow justice to be done. If these rights had already been in place, scandals such as that of England football supporter Garry Mann would have been avoided and the injustice for my constituent Andrew Symeou much reduced."

ENDS

Note to editors

The EU Council of Ministers reached political agreement on the proposed directive last Friday. The European Parliament as a whole is expected to endorse it in Strasbourg next Wednesday 16th June such that it then becomes EU law.

This is the first 'co-decision' agreement under the new Justice & Home affairs Lisbon treaty powers (policing and criminal justice). It is also the first-ever EU legally binding measure on procedural defence rights.