Scotland to host EU criminal justice meeting
27 Sep 05
Big name speakers to debate streamlining of evidence gathering and other key issues
Edinburgh will this week host an international conference on developments in EU criminal justice co-operation.
The event, which takes place at Edinburgh University from 29 September to 1 October, will attract judges, prosecutors and lawyers from across the EU.
Speakers will include Lord Advocate Colin Boyd, former European Court judge Sir David Edward, Irish Director of Prosecutions James Hamilton, Eurojust President Mike Kennedy, and deputy director of Europol Kevin McConnell.
Of particular interest will be plans to introduce a European Evidence Warrant, enabling investigators to bypass complex procedures on obtaining evidence abroad and to set common basic standards across the EU for treating suspects, gathering evidence and defining serious crimes.
The Edinburgh seminar, which will assess the effectiveness of the measures already implemented and debate those still being planned, is being organised by the Academy of European Law, the Crown Office, the Faculty of Advocates and the Law Society of Scotland, with the support of the European Institute at Edinburgh University and in association with the UK Presidency of the EU.