About EuroMed Justice

WHO PARTICIPATES?

Criminal justice representatives (e.g. judges, prosecutors, legal advisors from the Ministry of Justice) from the South Partner Countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine* and Tunisia) and participating EU Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands), as well as representatives from European Union bodies and international organisations active in the field of justice and security.

WHAT IS THE PROJECT’S MAIN AIM?

EuroMed Justice aims to strengthen the strategic and operational cooperation in judicial criminal matters between South Partner Countries and European Union (EU) Member States to contribute to the protection of their respective citizens against criminal activities, with due respect for the rule of law, and human and fundamental rights.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED BENEFITS?

• Sustainable cooperation mechanisms for cross-border judicial cooperation in criminal matters, consolidated relationships and mutual trust, and efficient responses to judicial cooperation issues.
• Enhanced capacities of South Partner Countries to tackle serious and organised crime through efficient and effective international judicial cooperation.

HOW DOES THE PROJECT ACHIEVE ITS GOALS?

1. By continuing to support the strategic cooperation mechanism established in the previous phases of the project:
   • EuroMed Justice Expert Group in Criminal Matters (CrimEx), which fosters the region’s ownership in the implementation of the project, builds trust and mutual confidence, and exchanges best practices and lessons learned.
   • EuroMed Prosecutors General Forum (PG Forum), which gives strategic direction and endorsement to the work of CrimEx, identifies prosecution-related challenges and recommends solutions.
2. By strengthening the EuroMed Justice Network (EMJNet): a cross-Mediterranean network of practitioners designed to strengthen contacts and operational cooperation between criminal justice authorities from South Partner Countries and EU Member States.
3. By organising joint trainings and workshops for EU Member States and South Partner Countries, focused on practical aspects of judicial cooperation and case studies, as well as training of trainers (ToT) for South Partner Countries based on the EuroMed Justice products.
4. By providing ad hoc technical assistance at the request of at least two participating countries to support activities not foreseen in the original plans, organising operational meetings among South Partner Countries and between South Partner Countries and EU Member States, with the possible participation of Eurojust.
5. By organising meetings on the benefits of international agreements, facilitating the development of data protection regimes in South Partner Countries and organising the stay of visiting professionals at Eurojust to support the negotiation of international agreements between Eurojust and South Partner Countries.

WHAT SUPPORT DOES EUROJUST PROVIDE?

• Shares expertise and best practices from Eurojust and EU Member States on how to use tools and instruments on judicial cooperation.
• Increases the participation and cooperation of South Partner Countries with the EU Member States and practitioners’ networks, e.g. the European Judicial Network (EJN), the Network of National Experts on Joint Investigation Teams (JIT Network), the European Judicial Cybercrime Network (EJCN) and the Focus Groups on Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings.
• Supports Commission-led negotiations of international agreements between Eurojust and South Partner Countries.