This is a sensible and correct political position. The Irish government has stated that no convincing or compelling case has been made to date for the appointment of a European Public Prosecutor. Such an appointment would not respect the different legal traditions of the member states of the European Union. EU member states should move to mutually recognise each other’s legal systems, rather than attempting to go down the road towards creating any common legal rules. In fact, judicial and police co-operation is very important in Europe, particularly, at a time when we are living in an internal market where there is a system of free movement of goods, services, people and capital.

But we must ensure that we put in place a system which ensures the mutual recognition of decisions that are laid down by the courts in the different member states of the European Union.

I am not convinced that the rights of the citizens of Europe would be enhanced by the setting up of a common European Public Prosecutor.

The fact of the matter is that in Britain and in Ireland, our legal systems are based on a common law system, while in many continental countries it is based on a civil legal system.

Brian Crowley, MEP,

European Parliament,

Brussels. 

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