Schedule 3 Text of Agreement with Iceland and Norway
THE EUROPEAN UNION, on the one hand, and THE REPUBLIC OF ICELAND and THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY, on the other hand, hereinafter referred to as 'the Contracting Parties',
WISHING to improve judicial cooperation in criminal matters between the Member States of the European Union and Iceland and Norway, without prejudice to the rules protecting individual freedom,
CONSIDERING that current relationships among the Contracting Parties require close cooperation in the fight against crime,
POINTING OUT the Contracting Parties' common interest in ensuring that mutual assistance between the Member States of the European Union and Iceland and Norway is provided in a fast and efficient manner compatible with the basic principles of their national law, and in compliance with the individual rights and principles of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed at Rome on 4 November 1950,
EXPRESSING their mutual confidence in the structure and functioning of their legal systems and in the ability of all Contracting Parties to guarantee a fair trial,
RESOLVED to supplement the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters of 20 April 1959 and other Conventions in force in this area, by an Agreement between the European Union, Iceland and Norway,
RECOGNISING that the provisions of those Conventions remain applicable for all matters not covered by this Agreement,
RECALLING that this Agreement, including Annex I thereto, regulates mutual assistance in criminal matters, based on the principles of the Convention of 20 April 1959,