DUTCH PARLIAMENT RATIFIES U.S.-EU EXTRADITION AND MLAT

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000571 STATE FOR L/LEI and EUR/WE JUSTICE FOR OIA/JFRIEDMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CJAN CJUS KCRM PGOV PREL NL SUBJECT: DUTCH PARLIAMENT RATIFIES U.S.-EU EXTRADITION AND MLAT TREATIES ¶1. On July 1, the First Chamber (Upper House) adopted the ratification package for the U.S.-EU extradition and MLAT treaties without any debate. This means that, since the package was already approved by the Second Chamber (Lower House) on June 5, the ratification process has now been completed. The treaties will officially become effective on the day after publication in the Government's Official Gazette, which is expected in two to three weeks. ¶2. Contrary to the expectations of our Ministry of Justice contacts, the ratification passed both Chambers without any discussion. The whole procedure was handled as a so-called "hammer piece", meaning that no vote was even held. The Netherlands is one of the last EU countries to have ratified these treaties. ¶3. NOTE: A USG-EUROJUST conference on implementation of the U.S.-EU extradition and MLAT treaties is scheduled to take place in The Hague November 13 and 14. GALLAGHER