Monday, July 29, 2024

Arrest of Captain Paul Watson in Greenland – answering citizens’ concerns

Citizens are concerned about the arrest of Captain Paul Watson in Greenland.


By Ask EP/ July 29, 2024

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Citizens are concerned about the arrest of Captain Paul Watson in Greenland. Many citizens have written to the President of the European Parliament on this subject since July 2024, asking her to intervene with the Danish authorities to stop Captain Watson from being extradited to Japan.

We replied to citizens who took the time to write to the President:


Extradition is a national responsibility

According to European Union (EU) law, the European Parliament is not authorised to intervene in an extradition process, which is the responsibility of national authorities.

Although there is an EU-Agreement between the European Union and Japan on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, it states that is does not apply to extradition (Article 1).

European Parliament position on whaling

In an October 2022 resolution, the European Parliament calls on Japan, Norway and Iceland to cease their whaling operations. Parliament strongly supports the continuation of the global moratorium on commercial whaling as well as the ban on international trade of whale products.

In an earlier resolution from June 2021, the European Parliament regrets Japan’s withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission and urges Norway and Japan to cease their whaling operations. Parliament also stresses the importance of protecting whale populations, from both a biodiversity and climate perspective.

EU laws protecting whales

The EU has adopted measures to protect cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) against hunting, capture and captivity, and against deliberate disturbance or trading, including cetacean products originating from non-EU countries.

Background

Citizens often send messages to the President of the European Parliament expressing their views and/or requesting action. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (AskEP) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) replies to these messages, which may sometimes be identical as part of wider public campaigns.





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