EU, Norway, and Iceland Sign Surrender Agreement: What It Means and Why It Matters

On March 20, 2019, the European Union (EU), Norway, and Iceland signed a landmark agreement that will greatly improve the cooperation between these countries in the area of criminal justice and law enforcement. The agreement, known as the “Surrender Agreement,” will simplify and speed up the extradition process for serious crimes, such as terrorism, murder, and drug trafficking, among others.

What is the Surrender Agreement?

The Surrender Agreement is a treaty that establishes a simplified and more efficient extradition procedure within the EU, Norway, and Iceland. The agreement replaces the existing extradition system, which was based on bilateral agreements between individual countries. Under the new system, a person who is wanted for a serious crime in one of the signatory countries can be extradited to that country without the need for a separate extradition request from that country.

The process of surrender, as it is called in the agreement, is designed to be fast and efficient. Once a person is arrested in one of the signatory countries, the country that issued the arrest warrant has 60 days to provide the necessary documents and evidence to support the extradition request. The person can be held in custody during this period. The surrender decision is made by the executing country, which is the country where the person is arrested.

Why is the Surrender Agreement important?

The Surrender Agreement is an important tool in the fight against cross-border crime, especially in the areas of terrorism, organized crime, and drug trafficking. It will help to remove the obstacles that have hindered extradition in the past, such as differences in legal systems, language barriers, and lengthy legal procedures. The new system will also ensure that suspects cannot evade justice by moving from one country to another.

The agreement is particularly important for Norway and Iceland, which are not members of the EU but have close ties with the EU in terms of trade, security, and other areas. The Surrender Agreement will allow these countries to cooperate more closely with the EU in law enforcement matters, which will benefit both sides.

Another important aspect of the Surrender Agreement is that it includes strong safeguards for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The agreement ensures that suspects have the right to a fair trial and that they are not extradited to a country where they might be subjected to torture or other forms of ill-treatment.

Conclusion

The Surrender Agreement is a significant step forward in the cooperation between the EU, Norway, and Iceland in the area of criminal justice and law enforcement. By simplifying and speeding up the extradition process for serious crimes, the agreement will help to ensure that criminals cannot evade justice by moving from one country to another. The agreement also includes strong safeguards for human rights and fundamental freedoms, which is essential in the fight against crime. Overall, the Surrender Agreement is a positive development that will benefit all parties involved.