A few summers ago the Liberal Democrats were pleased to announce that mobile roaming charges were slashed within the EU so that you could call home cheaper.  This year, for those who run in to problems in the EU, there are now new safe guards so that you are entitled to translation in court.

Most people don’t go on holiday expecting problems, but for some it’s a sad reality that things can go wrong.

In what Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman Sarah Ludford MEP has hailed as a “leap forward for European justice” the European Parliament has voted to give all EU citizens rights to interpretation and translations when they are questioned by police or tried in another EU country where they do not speak the language.”

Cllr Allan Siao Ming Witherick commenting on this said:

“We hear of too many cases where people find themselves accused of a crime abroad, but are unable to understand the details of the accusation or proceedings.   Court is an ordeal in your own language, but it can feel far worse in a foreign language where nothing feels certain or makes real sense.

These changes mean that when we’re in the EU we have that bit more support and show the value of having Liberal Democrats such as our own Andrew Duff MEP fighting for us.