R 071435Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1706
INFO DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000571 
 
 
STATE FOR L/LEI and EUR/WE 
JUSTICE FOR OIA/JFRIEDMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CJAN CJUS KCRM PGOV PREL NL
SUBJECT: DUTCH PARLIAMENT RATIFIES U.S.-EU EXTRADITION AND MLAT 
TREATIES 
 
¶1.  On July 1, the First Chamber (Upper House) adopted the 
ratification package for the U.S.-EU extradition and MLAT treaties 
without any debate.  This means that, since the package was already 
approved by the Second Chamber (Lower House) on June 5, the 
ratification process has now been completed.  The treaties will 
officially become effective on the day after publication in the 
Government's Official Gazette, which is expected in two to three 
weeks. 
 
¶2.  Contrary to the expectations of our Ministry of Justice 
contacts, the ratification passed both Chambers without any 
discussion.  The whole procedure was handled as a so-called "hammer 
piece", meaning that no vote was even held.  The Netherlands is one 
of the last EU countries to have ratified these treaties. 
 
¶3.  NOTE:  A USG-EUROJUST conference on implementation of the 
U.S.-EU extradition and MLAT treaties is scheduled to take place in 
The Hague November 13 and 14. 
 
GALLAGHER