Governmental opponents have blocked proposed antiterrorism laws in the European Union and in the United Kingdom, according to reports today (see GSN, Dec. 6).

During yesterday’s meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers, Italy blocked an EU plan for a common arrest warrant that would have ended extradition procedures between EU members, according to the London Independent. Italy said the warrant should focus only on terrorism and other serious crimes, and proposed reducing the number of crimes covered by the warrant from 30 to six.

The proposal was dismissed by other EU officials, who were angry since a final compromise on the warrant allowed countries to exempt any crime committed before a set date, which might have been as late as 2004, according to the Independent.

“I don’t understand the reasons for Italian reluctance,” said British Home Office official Angela Eagle.  “They have not explained themselves very well.  They tried to tear the list apart” (Stephen Castle, London Independent, Dec. 7). 

House of Lords Steps In

The British House of Lords yesterday blocked a proposed controversial anti-terrorism law that includes measures giving police great access to public information and allowing detainment without trial, according to Reuters.

The House of Lords voted 227-145 to increase the justification needed by authorities to access private information.  The chamber voted 191-117 to allow anyone detained without trial a judicial review. 

“The government has shown that … it will not listen,” said Baroness Buscombe, of the Conservative party.  “Given the true import of some parts of this Draconian bill, that is very regrettable” (Mike Peacock, Reuters/Globe and Mail, Dec. 7).

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