European warrant row heating up

The European Commission (EC) has warned that the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) debate is closed and doesn't see why F1 teams should be excluded from the law. FIA president Max Mosley had hoped for a resolution on the issue, as the teams want to be ...

The European Commission (EC) has warned that the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) debate is closed and doesn't see why F1 teams should be excluded from the law. FIA president Max Mosley had hoped for a resolution on the issue, as the teams want to be exempt from the warrant in the event of an on track fatality. However, the EC is unwilling to make such an exception.

Max Mosley.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

"Mr Mosley is not above the law and the European arrest warrant applies to all citizens," Pietro Petrucci, a spokesman for EU justice commissioner Antonio Vitorino, told AFP. "The debate has been closed for some time and is technically impossible to reopen. Formula One chiefs are waking up too late."

"In any case we don't see why we would have made an exception and why we shouldn't have confidence in the justice system. It isn't just in sport that there are people with a high notion of responsibility."

Mosley believes teams will boycott races in EU countries that have the warrant if they risk the chance of arrest. In regard to the EC stance on the issue, the FIA swiftly responded with a statement.

"Mr Vitorino is clearly unaware that one EU government has already confirmed that the relevant provisions of the European Arrest Warrant do not apply to sport. We anticipate that other EU governments will agree," said Mosley.

"No F1 team considers itself above the law but they will not race where they do not feel safe. Mr Vitorino may not understand this but those who apply EU laws do."

Mosley hopes for warrant resolution