Miljenić: The Commission Can Take Certain Measures, But Not Sanctions

Justice Minister Orsat Miljenić commented tonight in the HTV News on the announced sanctions by the European Commission. The minister reiterated the positions that the government has expressed in recent days, emphasizing that he considers the announced sanctions unfounded.

Miljenić pointed out that everything they had to say to the European Commission regarding the removal of the time limit in the European Arrest Warrant has already been written in letters, and that ‘they have their position, we have ours, and the whole matter is moving forward’.

– The Commission can take certain measures, but not sanctions. Citizens will not be left without a single euro because of this law. Our optimism is based on the fact that we are seeking equal rights as other countries in the EU. Others have not received sanctions – asserted the minister.

He emphasized that no country that has done the same thing has received sanctions, and once again reiterated that the government, after consultations with the European Commission in July, immediately stated that it would change the law.

– We are changing within the deadlines we have set. Some countries took three or four years, and one even 10 years to comply. So why would our 10 months for change represent a problem? I do not understand why they are announcing sanctions if they tolerated 10 years for some – wondered the minister, who also stated that we are not in a “hostage crisis” due to the announcement of sanctions.

Even after the host reminded him that the EC still demands immediate implementation, Miljenić remained steadfast in his claim that the government will not back down from having the new law, which will remove the time limit, come into effect on July 15, 2014.

– The law will be with the government this Thursday, we are sending it to the Parliament through urgent procedure and it will be voted on in this session, but it will come into effect on July 15 – Miljenić reiterated.