The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that it could submit an amended law to the Government as early as next week, which would abolish the limitation on the application of the European Arrest Warrant for crimes committed after August 2002, effective from July 15 of next year.
Justice Minister Orsat Miljenić stated in his latest letter to European Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding that the Republic of Croatia not only executes the European Arrest Warrant but has also committed to aligning the Law on Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters with the member states of the European Union, the source reminded. He added that a clear timeline has been defined for the preparation, adoption in the Croatian Parliament, and entry into force of the legal amendments, and that Croatia will adhere to these deadlines.
Anto Nobilo, the lawyer of former high-ranking official of the Yugoslav, and later Croatian secret service Josip Perković, for whom the law on non-application of the arrest warrant for crimes committed before 2002 is named Lex Perković, did not wish to comment on the announced amendments to the law today.
“As long as the final legal framework is not established, we will not make any statements because we need to know the rules of the game before we enter the match,” said Nobilo. He also added that the announced constitutional changes regarding the non-statute of limitations for politically motivated crimes are important for Perković’s case. “Until all the announced changes are made, it is up to the Government and the Parliament, not us,” concluded Nobilo.
