Daily News 19 / 06 / 2018

Brussels, 19 June 2018

Today, the Commission welcomes the agreement reached by the European Parliament and the EU Member States on the reform of the Eurojust agency, which helps EU national judicial authorities to team up and to fight against cross-border crime and terrorism. The new rules will facilitate the cooperation between Eurojust and its national members, with national authorities, with Europol and other agencies, such as European Border and Coast Guard Agency or the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). The new rules will also allow for a close cooperation between Eurojust and the futureEuropean Public Prosecutor Office, which will be a specialised body to investigate and prosecute crimes against the EU budget, such as corruption or fraud with EU funds, or cross-border VAT fraud. Finally, the new rules will ensure that the European Parliament and national Parliaments are more involved in assessing Eurojust's activities. Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Věra Jourová said: “Every year, Eurojust helps facilitate cooperation between national authorities in their investigations and prosecutions. In 2017 alone, Eurojust delivered concrete support in 4,500 investigations in all Member States and in cases which matter most to our citizens: terrorism, illegal migration and cybercrime, to name just a few." Recently Eurojust has helped solve cases, such as the dismantlinga drug smuggling and money laundering network active in Germany, Italy and Spain; supporting the investigation of the alleged fraud in the FIFA or solving a murder case within 24 hours, with European Arrest Warrants and European Investigation Orders involving Hungary, Germany and Austria. The provisional agreement reached today during the final trilogues, must now be formally approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. Following approval, the Regulation will be published in the EU's Official Journal and enter into force 20 days later. Eurojust's annual report is available here. (For more information: Christian Wigand- Tel.: +32 229 62253; Mélanie Voin – Tel.: +32 229 58659)