EU Criminal Law

EU criminal law is perhaps the fastest-growing area of EU law. It is also one of the most contested fields of EU action, covering measures which have a significant impact on the protection of fundamental rights and the relationship between the individual and the State, while, at the same time, presenting a challenge to State sovereignty in the field and potentially reconfiguring significantly the relationship between Member States and the EU. This book examines: the history and institutions of EU criminal law (including the evolution of the third pillar and its relationship with EC law) * harmonization in criminal law and procedure (with emphasis on competence questions) * mutual recognition in criminal matters (including the operation of the European Arrest Warrant) and accompanying measures * action by EU bodies facilitating police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters (such as Europol, Eurojust, and the Office Europeen de Lutte Anti-Fraude/the European Anti-Fraud Office) * the collection and exchange of personal data, in particular via EU databases and co-operation between law enforcement authorities * and the external dimension of EU action in criminal matters, including EU-US counter-terrorism co-operation. The analysis is forward-looking, taking into account the potential impact of the Lisbon Treaty on EU criminal law.