The European Arrest Warrant in Practice

the EU Member States are equally authoritative, which leads to serious compli- tions. After all, translations are always inferior to the original texts. The conclusion by Advocate-General Kokott in the Pupino case may lead to a practical solution: just use the language/text that reflects the intention of the drafters of the Fra- work Decision most clearly, regardless of the 'nationality' of the case. In the case of the EAW Framework Decision the French text is more authentic than any other text: reliable information from Brussels has taught me that all language versions have been translated from the French. Moreover, the negotiations on this Fra- work Decision were mostly in French. And so I can now return, with a clear conscience, to my natural state: easygoing if not actually lazy. Judge Rob Blekxtoon VII Chapter 0 INTRODUCTION We, Europeans, are participants in the shaping of Europe as a political, cultural and constitutional community, a common home in a messy world. We, lawyers, are responsible for channelling this process and for guarding balance. The balance we have to guard is between the three identities of every European citizen: his or her European, national and individual identity. For our European identity to bloom, it is necessary that our national and individual identities also bloom.