Eurojust. Initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany

1) OBJECTIVE

To reinforce measures to combat serious organised crime by improving judicial cooperation and facilitating the coordination of investigations and proceedings under way in more than one Member State.

2) PROPOSAL

Initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany with a view to the adoption of a Council Decision on setting up a Eurojust team [Official Journal C 206 of 19.07.2000].

3) SUMMARY

With a view to stepping up cooperation in the fight against crime, the Tampere European Council decided (cf. point 46 of its conclusions) to set up a unit known as Eurojust to coordinate the activities of the national authorities responsible for fighting organised crime.

The initiative provides for each Member State to appoint one or more magistrates, prosecutors or police officers ("liaison officers") to the Eurojust team.

The Eurojust team will provide support for investigations into:

• serious offences for which judicial assistance may be required;
• offences damaging the financial interests of the European Union.

The liaison officers' duties will include:

• providing information on the substantive and procedural law of their home Member State;
• providing information on progress in investigations and judgments in criminal cases;
• helping to coordinate and organise joint investigations carried out in two or more Member States;
• offering legal advice, contributing to Europol's activities and issuing opinions on the extension of Europol's powers;
• exchanging experience in the cross-border fight against crime and measures to combat offences which damage the Union's financial interests with a view to highlighting weak points.

The liaison magistrates within the meaning of Council Joint Action 96/277/JHA and the contact points of the European Judicial Network will be associated with Eurojust's work. The Commission and Europol will be invited to send liaison officers to Eurojust on secondment.

The initiative also provides for the Member States to create a network of their national procedural and criminal records so that information requests can be passed on via Eurojust to the competent bodies.

The Council may conclude agreements with non-member countries on cooperation between Eurojust and those countries' investigating authorities.

The General Secretariat of the Council will provide the materials and human resources (interpreters, translators, support staff) which Eurojust needs to carry out its work.

For further information, see the sheet on the Eurojust initiative presented by Portugal, France, Sweden and Belgium and the Communication from the Commission on the establishment of Eurojust.

On 28 February 2002, the Council adopted the Decision establishing Eurojust.

Last updated: 07.09.2005