Additional accepted languages for executing European Investigation Orders: Dismantling the Tower of Babel?
| Author | Jorge Angel Espina Ramos |
| DOI | 10.1177/2032284419889684 |
| Date | 01 December 2019 |
| Published date | 01 December 2019 |
| Subject Matter | Analysis/Opinion |
Analysis/Opinion
Additional accepted
languages for executing
European Investigation
Orders: Dismantling
the Tower of Babel?
Jorge Angel Espina Ramos
Eurojust, Netherlands
Abstract
The European Investigation Order Directive has changed the traditional approach towards the
language regimen in Conventions and Mutual Recognition instruments, by creating an obligation for
executing Member States to accept, in addition to their official ones, at least one additional
language. However, this provision has been totally disregarded in practice by some Member States
and incorrectly implemented by others. This raises concerns from both the perspective of the lack
of compliance with the text of the Directive as well as from the decreased efficiency of the
instrument.
Keywords
Mutual recognition, European investigation order, judicial cooperation, languages, European Union
One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.
Frank Smith, Psycholinguist
The European Investigation Order Directive
1
(hereinafter EIO) is one of the most ambitious
instruments ever devised in the field of mutual recognition, as it replaces the core Conventions
that were used before for the purpose of transborder gathering of evidence. While keeping the main
Corresponding author:
Jorge Angel Espina Ramos, Spanish Desk at Eurojust, Eurojust, PO Box 16183, The Hague 2500 BD, Netherlands.
E-mail: espinajorge@yahoo.es
1. Directive 2014/41/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 regarding the European Inves-
tigation Order in criminal matters, OJL 130, 1 May 2014, 1.
New Journal of European Criminal Law
2019, Vol. 10(4) 324–328
ªThe Author(s) 2019
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/2032284419889684
njecl.sagepub.com
NJECL
NJECL
To continue reading
Request your trial