Category: EuroMed Justice

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EuroMed Justice Project joins partners to strengthen regional efforts to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling

Source: Eurojust

The 5-day course enhanced law enforcement’s and judicial authorities technical capacities in addressing transnational organized human trafficking and migrant smuggling crimes by adapting current and state-of-the-art investigation techniques and practices. It was organised under the framework of the Action Plan A: Countering the trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants within the cross-Mediterranean region.

Using various innovative and interactive training strategies, more than 50 human trafficking and migrant smuggling investigators, border security officers, prosecutors, and members of the judiciary from eight MENA countries were trained on addressing several cutting-edge topics relevant to the trafficking of persons and migrant smuggling crimes. It included identifying indicators and new criminal patterns and leading proactive investigations in the absence of victim cooperation, as well as prosecuting traffickers and smugglers successfully within a human rights framework.

Additionally, the training adopted a victim-centric approach, which provided participants with up-to-date practices for managing victims throughout the investigation and prosecution process. During that module, participants benefited from Eurojust’s experience via the participation of a representative of the Eurojust Victims’ Rights Working Group. The training also highlighted effective impact gender-sensitive policies could have on the success of the investigation process, especially in these types of crimes.

Lastly, the participants were introduced to new crime patterns and the challenges of the use of advanced technology like artificial intelligence in committing the crime and responding to it.

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EuroMed Justice project organised its 19th CrimEx and 3rd EMJNet meetings in the Hague

Source: Eurojust

Under the framework of the 6th phase of the EuroMed Justice (EMJ) project, the 19th CrimEx and the 3rd EMJNet meetings were held on 29 and 30 May in a hybrid format at the Eurojust premises in the Hague. Criminal justice representatives from the EU South Partner Countries (SPCs) and the European Union Member States (EU MS) gathered to discuss and to identify common challenges and responses to strengthen international judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

On 29 May, SPCs and EU MS Country Representatives participated in the CrimEx meeting and had the opportunity to exchange on the technical challenges related to the Euro-Mediterranean judicial cooperation in criminal matters. Participants were invited to report and exchange on their national priorities on serious and organised crime. They also benefited from the experiences that shared from Spain in relation to Trafficking of Human Beings (THB) and the Netherlands in relation to Confiscations and Assets Recovery.

On 30 May, judicial practitioners from SPCs and EU MS reported and exchanged on the cooperation challenges at the national, regional and international levels in relation to operational judicial cooperation. The EMJ team presented the vision for the role and the functioning of the EMJNet in the 6th phase of the project.

The meetings were chaired by the National Members for France and Spain who steered discussions between participants, shared their experience as National Members and presented the Eurojust operational cooperation with third countries, including the role of Eurojust Contact Points.

During both days bilateral meetings (SPCs/EU MS – SPCs/SPCs) were organised including with Eurojust Representatives.

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Visit of Lebanese Minister of Justice Mr Henri Khoury

Source: Eurojust

Mr Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust and Mr Henri Khoury, Minister of Justice of Lebanon

A Lebanese delegation led by Justice Minister Mr Henri Khoury visited Eurojust today, to get better acquainted with the Agency, in particular the protection of personal data processed by Eurojust. The visit was organised by the European Commission in cooperation with Eurojust.

Lebanon is one of the countries the European Commission is negotiating with to work towards an international agreement on cooperation with Eurojust. Minister Khoury was presented with the cooperation modalities the agreement would enable and was informed of the safeguards to protect privacy and personal data that are in place at Eurojust. The Lebanese delegation also met and exchanged views with the EuroMed Justice project team at Eurojust.

Minister Khoury stated: I am honoured to be at Eurojust today for a study visit to get a deeper understanding of data protection processes, which will facilitate future judicial cooperation. I trust this visit will help move closer to an international agreement with Eurojust.

Eurojust President Mr Ladislav Hamran said: As the international dimension of organised crime grows ever bigger, it is crucial for Eurojust, prosecutors and investigative judges to cooperate with colleagues outside the European Union. It has therefore been important to meet with Minister Khoury to review options for collaboration with Lebanon and we look forward to establishing closer operational ties.