LA ARMONIZACIÓN DE LA LEGISLACIÓN PROCESAL PENAL EN LA UNIÓN EUROPEA: LOS DERECHOS DEL IMPUTADO

(A propósito del proyecto de decisión-marco del Consejo relativa a determinados derechos procesales aplicables a los procesos penales celebrados en la Unión Europea)

Abstract

In this article it is analysed the process of gestation and the mutations in the contents of the still project of a Council Framework Decision on certain procedural rights in criminal proceedings throughout the European Union. This norm tries to materialize a legislative initiative which wants to harmonize the criminal procedural legislation in the communitarian ambit on certain procedural rights of the charged and it is oriented to the fixation of minimum and common standards for all the Member States. The rights whose harmonization is promoted are, in the current situation, only those about information, legal aid (free of charge, in case) and interpretation and translation without fees in any case. The unification of the practice in the different countries is pretended through this action to support the mutual trust which is needed in order to progress towards the effective and unconditional mutual recognition of foreign judicial decisions on criminal matters in all the communitarian space, actuation part of the process of conforming the EU as a «freedom, security and justice area»