Chapter II: Provisions specific to mutual assistance between France and the other Member States of the European Union

Unless otherwise provided for by this Code, requests for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters between France and the other Member States of the European Union shall be made via European Investigation Decisions, in accordance with the provisions of this section.

A European Investigation Order is a judicial decision issued by a Member State, called the issuing State, requesting another Member State, called the executing State, using forms common to all States, to carry out within a certain period of time on its territory investigations aimed at obtaining evidence relating to a criminal offence or the communication of evidence already in its possession. The purpose of the investigation order may also…

Member States shall recognise a European Investigation Order without any formality and shall execute it in the same way and according to the same procedures as if the request had come from a national judicial authority, unless a valid reason provided for in this Section for non-recognition, non-execution or postponement of the order applies, and subject to the application of formalities expressly requested by the issuing authority which are not…

There are no grounds for issuing a European Investigation Order: 1° Where a joint investigation team is set up pursuant to Articles 695-2 and 695-3 ; however, where a competent authority participating in a joint investigation team requires the assistance of a Member State other than those participating in the team, a European Investigation Order may be issued for that purpose; 2° Where Articles 695-9-1 to 695-9-30 on the freezing…

The detailed rules for the application of this section shall be specified by decree.