A Lords committee has recommended extending European Commission proposals designed to aid EU citizens being tried outside their home country.

The Lords EU sub-committee on law and institutions examined Commission plans aimed at strengthening the rights of suspects and defendants.

The commission plans to allow those under investigation access to a high-level of procedural rights during the investigation, prosecution and trial of criminal offences.

Cases such as the British plane-spotters in Greece show the breadth of legal and cultural differences between member states, says the report.

As EU rules, such as the European arrest warrant, require the authorities in one member state to assist in the criminal investigatory procedures of another, those authorities must have the confidence that the individual citizens concerned will be treated fairly and in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Committee chairman Lord Scott said: "British citizens facing justice abroad will only be confident of access to standards of criminal justice comparable to those in the United Kingdom if the government takes a strong stance on minimum safeguards now."

The Lords' report welcomed the commission’s proposals and makes recommendations for strengthening them.

The report calls for the UK government to take the lead in agreeing a high-level of protection throughout the EU for anyone arrested outside their home country.

The temptation to agree standards at the lowest common denominator level must be avoided, says the report.