Two European MPs have criticised the French government for abusing EU rules when they arrested Unibet boss Petter Nylander. In an open letter to the European Internal Markets Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, UK MEP
Christopher Heaton-Harris and his Swedish counterpart MEP Christofer Fjellner said they were astonished that France was using a European Arrest Warrant to protect its own business interests, and accused them of violating one of the four fundamental freedoms of the internal market.

"It [the legislation] was supposed to serve as a tool to bring to justice people involved in crimes such as terrorism, murder and human trafficking," the pair said in the letter. "This instrument was never meant to be used by governments to punish those who fight for their rights under the rules of the EU treaty to provide goods and services."

The added "We strongly urge the European Commission to continue putting pressure on the French authorities to secure the immediate release of Mr Nylander."

In related news, Unibet said that Dutch and French authorities have agreed to transfer Nylander from the Netherlands to France on Wednesday 31.