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The evolution of European Union criminal law (1957-2012)

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2007, Polish authorities requested the German authorities to surrender Mr. Kozlowski,<br />

who did not consent to his surrender. <strong>The</strong> German executing authorities informed Mr.<br />

Kozlowski that they did not intend to raise any ground for non-execution, taking into<br />

account that he did not have habitual residence in Germany, his successive periods <strong>of</strong><br />

residence were characterised by the commission <strong>of</strong> several crimes, he was single and<br />

childless, had no command <strong>of</strong> the German language, had grown up and lived in Poland<br />

until the end <strong>of</strong> 2003, and only from February 2005 until May 2006 had lived in<br />

Germany—with some interruptions. Providing guidance in relation to the meaning <strong>of</strong> the<br />

terms ‘resident’ or ‘staying in’, for the purposes <strong>of</strong> Article 4(6) <strong>of</strong> the Framework<br />

Decision, the Court explained that first, the provision has the goal <strong>of</strong> enabling the<br />

executing authority to consider the person’s chances <strong>of</strong> reintegrating into society. 763<br />

Accordingly, it should cover situations in which the person in question either has<br />

established his actual place <strong>of</strong> residence in the executing Member State or has acquired,<br />

following a stable period <strong>of</strong> presence, connection with that State which is <strong>of</strong> a similar<br />

degree to those resulting from residence. <strong>The</strong> Court further clarified that, in order to<br />

determine whether, in a specific situation, there is such a connection between the person<br />

concerned and the executing Member State, it is necessary to make an overall<br />

assessment <strong>of</strong> the objective factors characterising the person’s situation—such as the<br />

length, nature and conditions <strong>of</strong> his presence, and the family and economic connections<br />

which he has with that State. 764 <strong>The</strong> Court also noted that neither the fact that a person<br />

systematically commits crimes in the executing Member State nor the fact that he is in<br />

detention there, serving a custodial sentence, is a relevant factor in this regard. 765<br />

Finally, the Court declared that Member States are not entitled to adopt a broader<br />

meaning, in this case <strong>of</strong> the term ‘staying in’, than that which derives from the Court’s<br />

uniform interpretation. 766<br />

763 Para 44 <strong>of</strong> the judgment, ibid..<br />

764 Para 48 and 54, ibid..<br />

765 Para 51, ibid..<br />

766 Para 43, ibid..<br />

205

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