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Grotius II-Criminal helping professionals from the EU Member States to cooperate in criminal matters
The EU Council of Ministers has adopted a programme called 'Grotius II-Criminal' for judicial cooperation in criminal matters, covering the years 2001-02. Grotius II stems from a programme of incentives and exchanges for legal practitioners in the area of civil and criminal law which ran from 1996 to 2000. The initial programme was then split into Grotius-Civil and Grotius II-Criminal for the years 2001-02. As for what happens beyond 2002, discussions are taking place on creating a single framework programme bringing together the various programmes dealing with EU-wide cooperation in police, customs and criminal matters. The Commission proposal has been adopted on 9 November 2001.
This page gives a general presentation in three parts:
I) Latest developments
Expiring end of 2002. For 2003, see AGIS
II) General context
On 28 October 1996, the EU Council of Ministers decided to set up a programme of incentives and exchanges forlegal practitionersto run from 1996 to 2000(joint action of 28.10.1996, OJ 287, 8.11.1996),on the basis of the former Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union.
What is the purpose of the Grotius programme?
To facilitate judicial cooperation between Member States of the European Union by fosteringmutual knowledgeof legal and judicial systems.
Who can benefit from Grotius funding?
Grotius was aimed at legal practitioners, i.e. judges (including examining magistrates), prosecutors, advocates, solicitors, academics and scientific personnel, ministry officials, criminal investigation officers, court officers, bailiffs, court interpreters and other professionals associated with the judiciary.
What does Grotius finance in practice?
Grotius has fundedtrainingprogrammes, exchangesand work experience, the organisation ofmeetings, studies and research and the dissemination ofinformation.
Why split up Grotius between civil and criminal matters?
The entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May 1999 gave judicial cooperation in criminal matters and judicial cooperation in civil matters two distinct legal bases (Title VI of the Treaty on European Union and Title IV of the Treaty establishing the European Community). Therefore, the aspects of the Grotius programme dealing with judicial cooperation in criminal matters are currently based on Articles 31 and 34 of the Treaty on European Union. Aspects of the programme relating to judicial cooperation in civil matters are currently based on Articles 61 and 67 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.
How was Grotius II-Criminal created?
In December 2000, the Commission presented before the Councila proposal to renew the criminal matters part of the Grotius programme for a period of two years. This was pending discussions on creating a single framework programme bringing together all the individual programmes governed by Title VI of the Treaty on European Union in order to boost their interaction and combined effects, simplify their management, raise their profile and publicise their activities more widely. On 28 June 2001, the Council adopted the Grotius II-Criminal programme for judicial cooperation in criminal matters for a period of two years ( Council Decision 2001/512/ of 28.6.2001, OJ L 186, 7.7.2001). This programme covers the years 2001 and 2002 and the financial reference amount for implementing it comes to EUR 4000000 (2000000 per year). The annual programme and call for applications for 2001 was published on 14 July 2001 (Official Journal C 199). The deadline for submitting applications has been set at 31 August 2001.
For more information on the Grotius II criminal programme
Secretary of the programme e-mail JAI-GROTIUS@ec.europa.eu
You will also find the list of projects funded by the Grotius programme in 2000.