Convention of 27 September 1996 relating to extradition between the Member States of the European Union

The aim of the Convention on extradition, now replaced in most cases by the Framework Decision on the European arrest warrant, was to facilitate extradition between the Member States in certain cases. It supplemented the other international agreements such as the European Convention on Extradition 1957, the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism 1977 and the European Union Convention on Simplified Extradition Procedure 1995.

Although the Convention has been replaced since 1 January 2004 by the Council Framework Decision of 13 June 2002 on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States (EAW), it can still be applied in the few cases where the European arrest warrant cannot be used. However, it entered into force as between only twelve Member States on 29 June 2005.

The Convention aims to facilitate extradition between the Member States in the cases it specifies. To that end it sets forth a number of principles from which the Member States may depart in certain conditions. Most of the Member States that have ratified the Convention have entered reservations in this respect.