Croatian lawmakers change disputed extradition law to avoid EU sanctions
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lawmakers in Croatia — the European Union's newest member — have approved changes to a law banning the extradition of suspected criminals in order to avoid possible sanctions from the bloc.
Croatia's parliament voted 83-28 on Friday to pass the amendments requested by the EU. Eight lawmakers abstained from the vote, which paves the way for the bill's changes to formally take effect by Jan. 1 the latest.
The law was adopted just a day before Croatia formally became an EU member on July 1 and included a retroactive prohibition on Croatian citizens being extradited, which goes against EU practice.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The EU had threatened sanctions such as suspending funds for Croatia's border controls over the law and the country promised to amend it as soon as possible.