The Deputy Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Public Order, Ms Fotini Tsiridou, participated today in an interparliamentary meeting of the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament. The topic of the meeting was the implementation of the principle of international jurisdiction to improve accountability for serious international crimes.
In her intervention, Ms Tsiridou stressed the need for justice in cases of criminal offences, which continue to be a source of concern at a global level and, to this end, the need to adopt an international approach. She stressed that the issue is of particular importance for the Member States of the European Union, as it touches on their fundamental principles and values.
Ms Tsiridou pointed out, however, that the assumption of jurisdiction by judicial authorities at national level is a particularly complex legal issue, as the Member States of the European Union apply different rules as regards the possibility of trying criminal cases for offences committed outside their geographical jurisdiction. Therefore, Ms Tsiridou said, the EU should carefully consider the most appropriate way to harmonise the relevant national legal frameworks, always respecting the constitutional order of its Member States, in order to allow for the registration of cases before courts in countries other than those where the offences were committed.
Cyprus, Mrs Tsiridou stressed, is well aware of the importance of justice at international level, as 48 years after the illegal invasion of Turkey, the victims of Turkish barbarity continue to live with the trauma of war. The protection of victims' rights must be a priority in the adjudication of cases of this nature, Ms Tsiridou concluded.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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