BBC News Online: World: Europe

Fast track for EU arrest warrants

The warrant is part of the EU's anti-terrorism proposals

Under the new laws, when an arrest warrant for a serious crime is issued in one country, police across the EU would be obliged to hunt down and hand over the suspect.

The warrant is a key part of the EU's response to the 11 September attacks but became a source of dispute when Italy initially refused to sign up to it.

Speeding up investigations

Spain, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Portugal and the UK agreed to press ahead with the warrant's introduction during a meeting of justice ministers in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela.

The European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, Antonio Vittorino, welcomed the decision, saying it showed that "discussions about a common justice zone are not just rhetoric".

The warrant will cover 32 serious crimes, ranging from terrorism to money laundering and child pornography.

It aims to bypass the long and complicated extradition procedures which often hold up investigations of serious crimes.

Italy caused consternation late last year when it threatened to veto the proposals, but relented at the last moment.

Italian Justice Minister Roberto Castelli said that his country still intended to implement the laws by 1 January 2004, but only if it could make the necessary changes to its legislation.

Ministers are in Santiago de Compostela for an informal two-day meeting to discuss ways to crack down on illegal immigration in the EU as well as improving judicial co-operation with the United States.