THE conviction and sentencing of the Greek plane-spotters is a clear injustice which has rightly drawn condemnation from all political parties.

It is, however, ironic that at the same time as our Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians are complaining about rough justice in Greece, both parties remain steadfast in their support of the recently ratified EU Arrest Warrant.

This new piece of legislation, which was opposed by me and my Conservative colleagues, is based on all judicial systems in European countries being of equal fairness and integrity. It would mean that if one country feels an individual has committed a crime, that individual must be put on a plane to face court proceedings in that country without any recourse to the British legal system.

This would be a very dangerous step. Magistrates in foreign countries will be able to have British subjects extradited from their homes to face trial in another country leaving the British Government powerless to intervene, regardless of the circumstances of the case.

Underpinning this legislation is the nave belief that all justice systems across the EU are equally objective and rigorous. I can think of a few British plane-spotters who might disagree.

All parties agree that the sentencing of the plane-spotters has been a miscarriage of justice, but let's have some honesty from Labour and the Liberal Democrats about what they are signing the British people up to behind closed doors.

Robert Goodwill MEP for

Yorkshire & Humberside,

Terrington, York.

Updated: 10:22 Saturday, May 04, 2002