This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 32014L0041
Faster, more efficient cross-border criminal investigations in the EU
Faster, more efficient cross-border criminal investigations in the EU
The European Investigation Order (EIO) directive sets up a comprehensive new system that allows EU countries to obtain evidence in other EU countries, for criminal cases that involve more than one country.
ACT
Directive 2014/41/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 regarding the European Investigation Order in criminal matters
SUMMARY
This directive aims to simplify and speed up cross-border criminal investigations in the EU. It introduces the European Investigation Order, which enables judicial authorities in one EU country (‘the issuing state’) to request that evidence be gathered in and transferred from another EU country (‘the executing state’).
As the EIO is based on the mutual recognition principle, each EU country is obliged in principle to recognise and carry out such a request. It must also be done swiftly and without any further formality.
The EIO makes it easier to tackle criminal offences including crimes such as corruption, drug trafficking and organised crime. For example, Greek police could ask their counterparts in the United Kingdom (1) to conduct house searches or interview witnesses on their behalf.
The EIO improves on existing EU laws covering this field by setting strict deadlines for gathering the evidence requested and by limiting the grounds for refusing such requests. It also reduces paperwork by introducing a single standard form for authorities to request help when seeking evidence.
Keys aspects of EIO
90 days to act
After receiving an EIO, the executing state must quickly act on the request. It can only refuse to do so under certain circumstances, e.g. if the request is against the country's fundamental principles of law or harms national security interests. All costs of acting on a request must be paid by the executing state.
The body carrying out the request can choose an alternative investigative measure than an EIO, if it believes this will lead to similar results.
The EIO also allows for:
This directive applies to all EU countries except Denmark and Ireland, which opted out. It replaces existing EU mutual legal assistance schemes, notably the 2000 EU Mutual Legal Assistance Convention and Framework Decision 2008/978/JHA on the European Evidence Warrant.
REFERENCES
Act |
Entry into force |
Deadline for transposition in the Member States |
Official Journal |
Directive 2014/41/EU |
21.5.2014 |
22.5.2017 |
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last update 10.09.2015
(1) The United Kingdom withdraws from the European Union and becomes a third country (non-EU country) as of 1 February 2020.