Facing a European Arrest Warrant, or unsure whether one has been issued against you? Our network includes a licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction to challenge the warrant.
Direct answer: a European Arrest Warrant is a fast-track surrender mechanism used between EU member states (plus Norway and Iceland under a parallel agreement) that replaces traditional extradition for most intra-EU cases. Since Brexit, the UK operates under a separate, broadly similar surrender arrangement under the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement rather than the EAW itself. Timelines are much shorter than conventional extradition, and for a defined list of serious offences the executing court cannot even examine dual criminality.
Global Lawyers Link is an international legal referral and coordination network, not a law firm licensed in any single jurisdiction.
Our network includes licensed lawyers in the relevant jurisdiction for your matter, working together on strategy from day one. Representation before any court is always handled directly by the network lawyer admitted to practice there.
An EAW is issued by a judicial authority, not a political body, and is designed to move quickly by design.
For 32 categories of serious crime, the executing court cannot re-examine whether the conduct is also a crime locally (no dual criminality check).
Consent cases are meant to resolve within 10 days; contested cases within 60 days — far faster than conventional extradition.
An EAW must be issued directly by a court or judicial authority, with no ministerial or political involvement in the request itself.
The UK no longer participates in the EAW scheme; surrender to and from the UK now runs under the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
EAWs move fast, but they are not automatic. Courts must refuse surrender on certain grounds, and may refuse on others.
Tell us what has happened and where. We will confirm what applies and bring in the right network lawyer — in confidence.
It serves the same purpose — surrendering a person to face prosecution or serve a sentence — but operates on a faster, more streamlined legal basis between participating states than traditional extradition.
No. Even in fast-track cases, a court in the country where you are located must review the warrant and you are entitled to legal representation at that hearing.
No. The UK now operates under its own surrender arrangement with the EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which is similar in structure but legally distinct from the EAW scheme.
It can, though a growing number of courts apply a proportionality check and have refused surrender for genuinely low-level matters.
Tell us what has happened, the country involved, and any documents you have received. We will respond directly and confidentially, and bring in the right network lawyer if representation is needed.
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