Sharp increase in extraditions

Altogether, the Netherlands received 821 requests for extradition of defendants from countries outside and inside the EU in 2006. More than 85 percent of these requests were based on the European Arrest Warrant (EAW).
The Netherlands receives more requests for extradition than it submits. Last year, 174 requests for extradition were submitted to countries inside and outside the EU. In the number of requests for extradition submitted by the Netherlands, there is also a shift from countries outside the EU towards EU member states.

The EAW replaces international agreements and procedures regarding extradition within the European Union. Regulations regarding extradition between EU member states are simpler and are conducive to cooperation between the member states. Since the introduction of the EAW in 2004, the number of requests for extradition of defendants by countries outside as well as inside the EU has more than doubled. The number of extraditions to countries outside the EU has declined since then.

Requests for extradition