EU arrest warrant to help Spain

Spain blames ETA for recent car bomb attacks

By Flora Botsford in Madrid

Spain has been one of the main backers of the European Union-wide arrest warrant, which is due to come into force in 2004.

The list should improve cross-border co-ordination

The Spanish Government supported the project since it was first put forward in 1999.

Madrid sees it as an essential weapon against the Basque separatist group ETA, which it has been fighting for independence for more than 30 years.

It has been a lonely struggle with few successes and many setbacks.

Loopholes

On the security front, one of the main weaknesses has been the French-Spanish border, and the ease with which even well known ETA suspects cross over into French territory and lie low until they are called out on a specific violent mission.

The EU wants to prevent a similar attack in Europe

Bombings and shootings have continued in Spain even after 11 September attacks.

But what has changed - according to Spanish Government officials - is the attitude of its European partners.

Suddenly every one wants to help not just the American but also the Spanish war on terrorism.

Now that objections by Italy have been overcome, the EU-wide arrest warrant looks set to become reality.

Fast-track extradition

It will provide a single arrest warrant, giving EU-wide rights of police pursuit and detention for the most serious crimes, including terrorism, arms, drugs and people trafficking, sexual abuse and money laundering.

It also brings a step closer the judicial and security union of Europe.

Fast-track extradition across the EU is another aspect of the proposal which will be particularly welcomed by Spain.

The Spanish Government has been frustrated by the slow pace of extradition mainly from France where many ETA suspects are in jail and out of reach of the Spanish courts.

But the co-operation between the Spanish and French security forces has greatly improved, leading to an increasing number of arrests of ETA suspects in France.

Whether any of these new developments will achieve the government's final aim - to finish with ETA violence once and for all - is open to question.

But they will certainly remove a few loopholes and hiding places which have been exploited by ETA over the past three decades.