Features of European Criminal Law

Abstract

The concept of European criminal law is used in a broad sense, referring to the influences the EU law and the ECHR regime have on criminal law. European criminal law consists of EU criminal law (directives, framework decisions, conventions, CJEU case law etc.) and ECtHR case law that is criminal law-related. In turn, the concept of EU criminal law is used to refer to the criminal law measures enacted within the EU framework. European criminal law is thus multileveled. Norms are created at the European level, either in the Council of Europe or the EU framework, and then implemented, applied and enforced at the domestic level. However the European Public Prosecutor’s Office will enforce EU criminal law directly within the limits of its competence.