The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) supports judicial coordination and cooperation between national authorities in combatting terrorism and serious organised crime affecting more than one EU country..

What it does

It helps EU countries combat terrorism and serious organised crime involving more than one EU country by:

• coordinating investigations & prosecutions involving at least 2 countries
• helping to resolve conflicts of jurisdiction
• facilitating the drafting and implementation of EU legal instruments, such as European Arrest Warrants and confiscation and freezing orders.

To do this, Eurojust:

• holds coordination meetings
• funds & provides expert input into joint investigation teams (JITs)
• organises coordination centres.

It also hosts the Secretariats of the European Judicial Network, the Joint Investigation Teams Network and the Network for investigation and prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes (Genocide Network).

Structure

Eurojust’s policymaking body ('College') comprises one senior prosecutor or judge from each EU country. Each of these national members is in charge of a national desk.

The administration is led by an Administrative Director.

There is also a Data Protection Officer, who works independently of the Administrative Director.

How it works

Each year, Eurojust:

• opens a growing number of cases (currently almost over 2,300)
• holds about 250 coordination meetings & runs 10 coordination centres.

Eurojust's coordination meetings bring together prosecutors, judges and law enforcement officers. They benefit from the unit's expertise, facilities, translation services. Travel and accommodation costs are reimbursed.

Coordination centres hold joint action days, at which participants can share information on serious organised crimes involving more than one country.

Eurojust has cooperation agreements with many non-EU countries with related EU institutions, agencies and partners, and with international organisations including :

• the European Judicial Network
• the European Police Office (Europol)
• the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
• the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex)
• the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
• the European Police College (CEPOL)
• the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN)
• the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA)
• Interpol
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
• IberRed

Who benefits

The national authorities are Eurojust's main partners. Eurojust links law enforcement authorities and prosecutors, enabling them to fight cases of serious organised crime involving 2 EU countries or more.