Thus, the extradition request was pursued and accepted. Following this decision, the couple submitted a procedure of extreme urgency before the Belgian Council of State in order to stop their extradition. This was successful and their extradition did not proceed(E. Bribosia and A. Weyembergh, ‘Asile et extradition: vers un espace judiciaire européen?’ (1997) at 73-77).
The Spanish authorities, offended by the Belgian decision, questioned the relevance of the possibility for asylum in the European Union, a Union of democratic countries that respect the rule of law. Their phone number list argument queried the need to grant asylum for EU citizens in a system that endeavors to advance mutual assistance in criminal matters and the fight against terror.
This led to the adoption of two major legislative instruments. First, the Convention on Extradition between the Member States in 1996. This Convention removed the option to refuse extradition of a political offender to another EU Member States.