Transnational Law Enforcement Cooperation: Fundamental Rights in European Cooperation in Criminal Matters

Abstract

European cooperation in criminal matters is an area full of paradoxes. This article identifies the dominant narratives that define the nature of European cooperation in criminal matters. It also aims to identify the consequences that these narratives entail for the protection of fundamental rights in that cooperation and, subsequently, for the EU’s legislative agenda for the coming years. It develops a model of deeper justice integration, based on the narrative of a common European area, fostering the proper administration of criminal justice, transnational agency for individuals and fundamental rights.