The evaluation of European criminal law

Evaluation represents an essential tool to appreciate the legislative and practical implementation of existing European criminal law and to assess and measure in greater detail the effects and impact of EU legislation. Therefore, it plays a significant role in the establishment and strengthening of mutual trust in the EU area of freedom, security and justice.This book aims at developing a methodology for the assessment of the implementation and impact of European criminal law.

The main purpose of this exercise is to test this methodology on the Framework Decision of 19 July 2002 on combating trafficking in human beings. The choice of this legal instrument is particularly appropriate since it is aimed at harmonising the Member States’ national laws as regards a most serious and specific offence which is related to modern slavery and exploitation of human beings.The book starts with a general analysis of evaluation. This is followed by a series of country chapters, analysing the transposition and implementation as well as the impact of the Framework Decision on trafficking in human beings in 12 selected Member States of the European Union. These contributions served as the basis for more general conclusions drawn up in the final part of the book.

This book is the result of a team work performed by academics and researchers who are members of ECLAN (European Criminal Law Academic Network).