Letter to the Daily Telegraph: interpretation and translation for defendants in the EU
March 13, 2010 12:00 PM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP
Your man in Brussels reports that "Britons arrested in Europe to be denied translator" (March 13th). Not if I can help it, and I can!
The proposed EU legislation on interpretation and translation rights for defendants abroad needs to be agreed by MEPs as well as by EU governments. As the European Parliament's lead negotiator on the measure I can be relied on to drive a hard bargain. My published amendments cover all the key weaknesses in the Member State text and demonstrate that I aim for a much higher standard of guarantees.
This proposed law is part of an essential package to close gaps in current provision of fair trial rights and remedy any unfairness in operation of the European Arrest Warrant. All 27 governments should already respect the European Convention on Human Rights, but in practice they don't. That's why EU law and enforcement powers are needed to ensure due process and prevent miscarriages of justice such as that of my constituent Andrew Symeou whose campaign against injustice in Greece I am actively supporting.
I thus strongly welcome the UK government's decision to 'opt in' to negotiations on the EU language assistance measure. That is not the same thing as endorsing the current draft, and I hope and believe that they will be supportive of efforts to improve it.
It is illogical to hold the position which the Tories adopt, of opposing the European Arrest Warrant while simultaneously damning EU action to strengthen defence rights. A combination of the two - 'European Arrest Warrant Plus' - is needed to catch criminals while upholding justice.
Yours sincerely,
(This letter was sent to the Daily Telegraph on 13 March 2010.)
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