EU pressures Croatia over extradition law
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 18 September 2013 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, EU pressures Croatia over extradition law, 18 September 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/525e3fad31.html [accessed 22 October 2022] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 18, 2013
The European Union moved closer on September 18 to imposing financial sanctions on new member Croatia over controversial amendments to its extradition law.
Croatia passed the amendments just days before joining the EU on July 1.
The commission said in a statement that it "has consistently requested a swift and unconditional correction of the Croatian legislation implementing the European Arrest Warrant."
The commission said EU member states now have two weeks to consult before financial aid for Croatia is suspended.
The Croatian parliament amended the extradition law just days before the country joined the EU.
According to the amendment, anyone accused or convicted of a crime before August 2002 cannot be transferred abroad.
As a result, those accused of war crimes during the Balkan wars of the 1990s cannot be extradited to face trial.
Based on reporting by Reuters and RFE/RL
Link to original story on RFE/RL website