BBC News Online: World: Europe

Italy U-turn on arrest warrant

Critics said Berlusconi may himself have feared arrest

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced after talks with Belgian leader Guy Verhofstadt that he would, after all, back the warrant.

The Italian Government had previously blocked the idea, claiming it would jeopardise national sovereignty.

The arrest warrant would mean that people wanted for any of 32 specified crimes - ranging from terrorism to paedophilia - could be arrested in any EU country. The suspects would be handed over without the right of appeal.

But last Thursday Italy sent the plans into disarray by revealing at a ministers' meeting that it would veto the warrant.

The Italian stand prompted speculation that Mr Berlusconi - who has faced tax investigations in other European countries - could have been basing his objections on concerns for his personal future.

But after talks in Rome with Mr Verhofstadt, Mr Berlusconi announced his U-turn.

And he said Italy would have to adapt its judicial system to ensure compatibility with the European move.

"Other nations have set 2004 as a date for implementing this accord and we expect a date sometime around there for us... although it could be after that," Mr Berlusconi said.

"If we can't change the constitution, then we will remain outside this agreement... just as Britain and others have remained outside the euro, for example," he added.

Mr Verhofstadt welcomed the Italian reversal.

"I'm very happy that Italy, along with the rest of the other EU members, has accepted the arrest warrant as presented and defined by the ministers," he said.

The European Union, which holds a summit at Laeken in Belgium this weekend, had been keen to avoid an embarrassing difference of opinion over the arrest warrant.