Eurojust hosts cross-Mediterranean partners to strengthen judicial cooperation
The seventh EuroMed Prosecutors General Forum offered a platform to strengthen cooperation between South Partner Countries, European Union Member States and Eurojust. The event brought together Prosecutor Generals and equivalent positions from the EU (Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and The Netherlands) and MENA region (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine1). This year’s edition presented an update on ongoing actions by the EuroMed Justice project, endorsed recommendations for judicial cooperation in the fight against organised crime and offered the opportunity for bilateral discussion on high-level cases in the margins of the event.
Eurojust President Michael Schmid: ‘Fighting serious and organised crime is more than ever before a collective effort, so it is important for Eurojust and for Prosecutors General from across the Middle East and North Africa so stay close. The number of operational meetings between our sides stood at 57 in 2025 and we expect it to grow further, but there is important potential left to tap. Over the past two days for instance, we looked at how we can join forces in Joint Investigation Teams, so that information and evidence could be exchanged more smoothly.’
Throughout the two-day event, Prosecutors General and their representatives were informed on the implementation of the EMJ Multi-Annual Strategy 2025-2027, in particular on the activities that took place or are planned to enhance judicial cooperation in the fight against trafficking of human beings/migrant smuggling and asset recovery. In the second half of 2026, activities will focus on cybercrime and e-evidence. Participants were further briefed on the international agreements on cooperation with Eurojust, as well as on the short-term stays at Eurojust for practitioners from Algeria and Egypt that took place in 2026.
At the end of the first day, following the signing of a working arrangement, representatives from the NCIJC, the National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation in Iraq, presented their work and their ongoing cooperation with Eurojust.
On the second day, the meeting was devoted to proposed recommendations from the EMJNet and the CrimEx on the fight against drug trafficking, on preventing conflict of jurisdiction and on the setting up of Joint Investigation Teams. During a tour de table, the representatives provided their feedback on the recommendations and discussed next steps.
Prior to the start of the meeting, the President of Eurojust met with several South Partner Countries delegations. In the margins of the event, a high-number of bilateral meetings among delegations and with Eurojust National Members and Liaison Prosecutors were held, aiming to further strengthen judicial cooperation at high-level.
The EuroMed Justice project, funded by the European Commission (DG MENA) and implemented by Eurojust, aims at enhancing strategic and operational international criminal justice cooperation. The project activities increase opportunities for dialogue and joint actions between relevant EU Member States and the South Partner Countries, as well as opportunities for cross-border cooperation in criminal matters between respective judicial authorities.
1This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.