Sarah hosts Fair Trials International seminar in European Parliament

9.47.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th Oct 2009

Sarah spoke alongside Jago Russell and Catherine Heard of FTI at the event in the European Parliament

Sarah recently hosted a very productive seminar for MEPs and staff at which Fair Trials International - of which she is a patron - launched its 'Justice in Europe' campaign. The campaign is calling for strengthened rights for suspects and defendants in Europe in order to match prosecutors' powers under the European Arrest Warrant. FTI is also calling for reform of the European Arrest Warrant. Sarah is the 'rapporteur' on a current proposal for rights to translation and interpretation, a vital measure since it is impossible for people to get justice if they cannot follow proceedings. The translation issue was highlighted when Sarah many years ago supported the planespotters in Greece who were ludicrously prosecuted as spies! Sarah is also involved in trying to get justice for Andrew Symeou who is still in prison in Greece as his appeal against his refusal of bail has still not been heard. As Sarah said, "Just because the Liberal Democrats support the European Arrest Warrant in principle does not mean we lose our critical faculties regarding its flaws. If prosecutors are given Europe-wide powers, then defendants should be given a Europe-wide defence. I will continue to work with organisations such as Fair Trials International to ensure that the European Arrest Warrant upholds high standards of justice.