EU better than consulates, says fair trials group

Date: 06/02/03

By Martin Banks

PEOPLE who fall foul of the law outside their home countries would be better represented by the European Union than their national consulate, according to Fair Trials Abroad (FTA).

The UK-based campaign group, which is part-funded by the European Commission, claims that the help offered by consulates is at best "variable".

It is pressing the Convention on Europe's future to recommend extending the powers of the Commission in this area.

Stephen Jakobi, FTA director, said: "We are aware of differential effort by consular authorities, the effect of which has been to free one country's citizen at an early stage of proceedings while the citizen of another country has been left languishing in jail.

"Joint representation by the EU authorities might have produced a better result."

Jakobi said there was a "window of opportunity" to extend the mandate of the Commission's worldwide delegations beyond trade and aid.

"With relatively modest reform, the EU could provide valuable support for its citizens suffering abuse of fundamental rights," he added.

People who fall foul of the law outside their home countries would be better represented by the European Union than their national consulate, according to campaign group Fair Trials Abroad.

http://www.f-t-a.freeserve.co.uk/ http://www.f-t-a.freeserve.co.uk/

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