Jan 16, 6:23 AM EST


European Nations Urged to Harmonize Laws

By ROBERT WIELAARD
Associated Press Writer

VIENNA, Austria (AP) -- In Cyprus, a child of 7 can be charged with a crime. In France, it's age 10. Poland allows police to be present when suspects speak to their lawyers. Other European countries would consider that a violation of their rights.

The European Commission is pushing EU countries to create order in their smorgasbord of legal practices, particularly as governments step up cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

European justice ministers pledged to tackle the issue after meeting over the weekend to discuss an EU-commissioned study revealing major differences on how police and courts dealt with suspects facing terror and criminal charges.

But harmonizing law enforcement rules - whose origins date back centuries and have developed differently in European nations - has met resistance in many capitals where officials consider crime fighting a national concern.



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The study, conducted by the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, revealed no violations of the European Human Rights Convention, which all 25 EU states have signed.

But it said such different legal practices mean a courts in one nation could dismiss criminal evidence collected by police in another country.

The report urged European governments to keep their promise on enacting compatible criminal law procedures under a 2004 program to step up anti-terrorism cooperation across the EU.

Seven nations - Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, France, Germany and Spain - took a key step in May, agreeing to share DNA and fingerprinting evidence and allow enforcement officials to pursue criminals across borders without notification.

But "several countries seriously question the legal basis" of giving the EU a role in criminal law, said a Dutch diplomat who asked not to be named because of the sensitive nature of the issue.

Half a dozen nations, including Germany, have yet to ratify a decision to let Europol - the EU police cooperation agency - assist in joint criminal investigations.

"EU governments think criminal sanctions should be a national matter only," said Hugo Brady, a research fellow at the London-based Centre for European Reform.

Quick changes aren't expected at a time when public support for the EU is feeble, as evidenced by the defeat of the proposed EU constitution in last year's Dutch and French referendums.

But given the terrorist threats facing Europe, "they recognize deeper EU cooperation remains essential," Brady said in a recent report.
The European Commission is pushing ahead with a proposal for minimum rules covering the right to legal aid, translation of documents, consular help and special help for "vulnerable suspects," including women, children, illiterate people and drug and alcohol addicts.

It also wants EU nations to adopt a "letter of rights" that would inform criminal suspects of their legal rights in any court proceedings. All EU countries grant criminal suspects the right to see a lawyer, but the timing varies widely.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_...N=INTERNATIONAL

It is not surprising that they would take such punishments to children too. The EU has an evil agenda, that is dark and ruthless. the leader of the EU is german and holds values of Hilter, in highest regards....Why not punish anyone who comes against their form of government? They are just sealing up any chances for the average citizens...."they are going to offer a councilor to help?" Give me a break here. "All EU countries grant criminal suspects the right to see a lawyer, but timing varies..widely."

'Seven nations - Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, France, Germany and Spain - took a key step in May, agreeing to share DNA and fingerprinting evidence and allow enforcement officials to pursue criminals across borders without notification.'

One world government....here they come!

why do you fear unity and cooperation?

I don't fear unity and cooperation~ because it is not unity and not cooperation...and since when is the punishment of children considered unity and cooperation? It is not morally sound my friend.

READ THE BOOK, MAN, READ THE BOOK!....

God's book is clear on this subject. There will be no peace, until Jesus Reigns. Don't fall for the ac when he comes on the sceen. This is just setting the stage of things to come.

"And the Actor's on stage are......" I have posted them on this forum. Read for yourselves. Ask God to show you in His Word. It is all in His Word and it is no secret either.....it shall all come to pass.

Its not about punishing children.... Its about finding an age to CHARGE AND PROSECUTE a child for a crime.... if they committed a crime, so shall they be charged... in some cases in the US, the parents are charged for a crime the child commits... (example loaded gun in house... kid shoots his playmate by accident)



I have read the book (man...hehe) numerous times...

Was there anything said in that article about peace? Will the end of terrorism bring peace?

unity... harmonization (words found in the article)... such good words.... If these words are found and practiced within a walls of say... a church.... even further let's say peace is practiced.. again in a church... should I be cautioned?

If you were to raise questions about the unity, harmonization, and (sure why not) peace... who is the opposer of such ideas?
seeds of discord and paranoia....


yes, i know the antichrist will promise such things....but....

There are no "but's" in God.

That's easy to answer.

It's like what the bible says: judge something by the fruits it produces.

If you notice an organization (IE: EU) promising peace and so forth, and conducting questionable activities in order to bring about 'peace', then they're producing bad fruits and thereby should be shunned.

If you notice an organization (IE: Church/Congreation) promising peace and so forth, and conducting pure activities that don't smack of questionability, then they're producing good fruits, and should be embraced.

In other words, use your judgement, but do not be blind to everything an organization does for the sake of greater good, embrace, but be wary. Like the bible says, always be on your guard.

Thanks Don.

its a form of expression... to indicate skepticism on an anticipated textbook (and predicted) answer..


my original statement




For you tigger, I'll finish it...

I know the antichrist will promise such thing but... we shouldn't assume that everything that promises harmonization and unity (perhaps peace) is the formation of the antichrist... ie...THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!

Don-
Thanks...

Don or is it appygrove?

you just proved my point, there is no "but's" In God. Thank you.

Now please read the ending of the Book.

Just a little saying here....the devil can fool some of the people most of the time, but he can't fool God's people at all!

I am not falling into you traps my friend.

God's Word is all I need. I know His Word and it is written on my heart, in Jesus Blood. Can't get any closer to God than that.

Be careful, you are treading on Holy Ground. and in closing I'm praying for you too....

Sorry, I'm not Don... but nonetheless, I can always use prayer. thanks