The first book to paint a comprehensive and accurate picture of the notion of punishment under EU law.

The book takes the reader on a journey through one of the most under-researched segments of EU criminal law; the set of EU norms regulating the enforcement of criminal sanctions across different Member States.

The proliferation of arrangements allowing the enforcement of sentences across borders is an increasingly relevant phenomenon, which reflects the growing mobility of individuals within the EU and beyond. The book investigates the driving forces of EU law and policy in this area, by taking stock of relevant legislation, case law and policy documents.

While officially endorsing rehabilitation as a key rationale in this field, the EU approach to punishment is driven by a number of different and contradicting purposes. The author problematises these contradictions, by tracing the development of EU rules on the cross-border enforcement of custodial and non-custodial sentences.

Through a contextual reading of the relevant EU legal framework, the book sheds light on the key issues affecting its functioning and sets out proposals for reform. In doing so, the book provides a timely and fascinating insight into the way punishment is meted out and administered in cross-border settings.