Schengen: Adjusting rules for extradition
01 March 1996
Schengen countries are to agree new rules for the extradition of terrorists. This was the outcome of a meeting called in the Hague to settle the crisis that has arisen between Spain and Belgium following the refusal of a Belgian court to allow the extradition of two basque separatists accused by Spain of membership of ETA.
The emergency meeting decided to adjust Article 60 which covers extradition of people suspected of terrorist activity. The main aim of the adjustments will be to harmonise the judicial basis for extraditing terrorists. Spain and Belgium have also agreed to bilateral talks aimed at sorting out the particular problem of the Basque duo.
The problems relating to extradition deepened after Spain refused to extradite an Ex-Nazi still active in far-right politics back to Germany where he was to face charges of holocaust denial.The Spanish appeals court refused to recognise holocaust denial as a crime in a move seen by some observers as a riposte following Spanish frustration at the Belgian court's decision.
Gazet van Antwerpen, 22.2.96.