European Judicial Network Anniversary Plenary Meeting in Stockholm Highlights Cross-Border Cooperation Milestones

(IN BRIEF) The European Judicial Network (EJN) is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The EJN assists judges and prosecutors worldwide with day-to-day cooperation on criminal justice matters through a network of National Contact Points. The network has experienced a rise in collaboration requests, handling around 8,000 new cases per year. The EJN plenary meeting in Stockholm will discuss future cooperation and improvements. The EJN was established in 1998 to facilitate direct cooperation between judicial authorities, prosecutors, and Ministries of Justice to combat cross-border crime. Its role complements that of Eurojust, and it operates through a network of approximately 450 Contact Points. The EJN also contributes to EU legal instruments and offers practical guidance through its website. Hugh Dockry has recently taken up the position of Secretary to the EJN.

(PRESS RELEASE) THE HAGUE, 12-Jun-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Eurojust, an agency of the European Union dealing with judicial co-operation in criminal matters among agencies of the member states, announces that the European Judicial Network (EJN) marks its 25th anniversary this year, highlighting its significant role in promoting international judicial cooperation. The milestone will be commemorated during the 60th EJN plenary meeting in Stockholm from June 12th to 14th. The EJN, operating through a network of National Contact Points, provides support to judges and prosecutors worldwide in matters of criminal justice collaboration.

The EJN has witnessed a rise in requests for such cooperation, with approximately 8,000 new reported cases and over 4 million annual website page views. The plenary meeting will focus on building on this success and enhancing cooperation for the future.

Mr Per Hedvall, Chairman of the 60th EJN Plenary Meeting under the Swedish Presidency said: I have the honour of chairing the 60th Plenary Meeting of the EJN, an event which marks that, in 25 years, it has become a key player in the field of international judicial cooperation. Its operational approach has proven to be a success. The plenary meetings are essential to create a forum for the Contact Points of the EJN to meet and discuss issues relating to international judicial cooperation. The networking during these meetings lays the foundation for trust and understanding, which is crucial to efficient cooperation.

Mr Hugh Dockry, recently appointed Secretary to the EJN, stated: Since its creation, the European Judicial Network has proven to be a very important instrument to enable concrete cooperation between judges and prosecutors, in order to fight crime, combat impunity and reinforce the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. From my experience as an expert in judicial cooperation in criminal matters and a practitioner in Ireland, I can tell how valuable establishing ties with fellow prosecutors and exchanging information via the EJN is. Since taking up my new role as Secretary, I am looking forward to building on this cooperation and enhancing it in the future, in close collaboration with colleagues at Eurojust.

Established in June 1998 by the Council of the European Union, the EJN facilitates direct, practical, and bilateral cooperation between judicial authorities, prosecutors, and Ministries of Justice to combat cross-border crime. It specializes in resolving legal issues through one-to-one contact and undertakes preparatory work for judicial cooperation. The EJN’s role complements that of Eurojust and enables national authorities to seek appropriate support from either entity based on their case’s specifics. Consequently, the EJN Secretariat is hosted at Eurojust in The Hague.

The EJN provides assistance on various matters, including the status of investigations, identifying involved authorities, and establishing contacts in other countries. It also aids judges and prosecutors in executing requests for European Investigation Orders (EIOs), European Arrest Warrants (EAWs), Freezing Certificates (FC), and Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAs).

This valuable support facilitates direct communication between judges and prosecution services without the need for involvement from National Desks or Liaison Prosecutors at Eurojust. This allows them to focus on long-term and large-scale criminal justice and multilateral cooperation. The EJN operates through a network of approximately 450 Contact Points in EU Member States and beyond.

The EJN Contact Points are coordinated by National Correspondents, supported by a Secretariat and a rotating Presidency Board following the Council of the European Union’s rotation scheme. Over the past decade, the Contact Points have reported over 90,000 cases.

Additionally, the EJN contributes significantly to the drafting and implementation of EU legal instruments, such as the e-Evidence package. Its website, managed by the EJN Secretariat, offers practical guidance through its Judicial Atlas of Contact Points and Competent Authorities. The Compendium provides access to EAW and MLA forms in all 24 official languages of the EU, facilitated by e-tools designed to assist authorities in filling, drafting, and submitting requests.

The Judicial Atlas enables authorities to identify the competent authority to receive requests based on the assistance required, nature of the crime, and criteria defined by national legislation. Most tools and information on the EJN website are publicly available and widely utilized throughout the EU and beyond, with visits from over 100 countries.

Hugh Dockry assumed the position of Secretary to the EJN in January, succeeding Ola Löfgren. Dockry brings extensive experience from his tenure in the Chief State Solicitor’s Office of Ireland, where he spent 14 years working on cooperation in judicial matters, particularly the execution of incoming EAWs and extradition requests. Prior to his role at the EJN, Dockry served as a national expert for Ireland at the Directorate General for Justice of the European Commission, focusing on judicial cooperation instruments, including EAWs and detention conditions.

Media contact:

Eurojust Press Team
Phone: + 31 70 412 55 00
media@eurojust.europa.eu

SOURCE: EUROJUST