Dear reader,

Welcome to this third quarterly newsletter of 2022. The past months may have included the summer period, but things have certainly not slowed down at Eurojust. With this edition, we hope to give you a bird's eye view of what has been keeping us busy and what is still ahead of us.

The judicial response to alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine was the central theme of the 16th meeting of the Consultative Forum of Prosecutors General of EU Member States, hosted by Eurojust. Prosecutors General and Directors of Public Prosecutions discussed the expanded role of Eurojust in view of core international crimes, such as war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Romanian judicial authorities signed an agreement to become a member of the joint investigation team (JIT) on alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine. This makes Romania the seventh member of the JIT, which is actively supported by Eurojust.

Eurojust, the Genocide Network and the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have published practical guidelines for civil society organisations on documenting core international crimes, such as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The guidelines aim to assist in fighting impunity and have been drawn up building on the expertise of the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC, Eurojust, the Genocide Network, civil society organisations, national prosecutors and international partners. In a technical briefing on 6 October, the guidelines were discussed with representatives of several civil society organisations.

Eurojust President Mr Ladislav Hamran has started the new WB CRIM JUST project for cooperation with and between the six partners in the Western Balkans, with a series of visits to the region. His first visit led him to Belgrade and Sarajevo.

Supported by Eurojust and Europol, authorities in Spain and Italy have taken action against two organised crime groups with suspected links to the ‘Ndrangheta mafia and allegedly involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and extortion.

Supported by Eurojust and Europol, judicial and law enforcement authorities in Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy and the United States dismantled a criminal network involved in migrant smuggling, document fraud and money laundering.

With the support of Eurojust, authorities in Finland, Germany, Belgium and Latvia have succeeded in striking a blow against the operators of various fraudulent online investment platforms that have defrauded victims from 11 different countries out of several million euros.

Authorities in Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland have dismantled a criminal network involved in a large-scale VAT fraud concerning tobacco smuggling. The estimated damage caused by the tax evasion to the European Union budget amounts to over EUR 8 750 000.

A historic 17th century painting by the Italian baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi has been returned to Italy, with the active support of Eurojust. Two suspects are being investigated for fraud and attempts to illegally sell the painting of the legend of Roman Charity in Austria.

Eurojust has assisted authorities in the Czech Republic, Belgium, Poland, Germany and Hungary in dismantling an organised crime group that was involved in migrant smuggling. During an action, nine suspects were arrested and nine locations were searched.

Supported by Eurojust and Europol, judicial and law enforcement authorities in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have dismantled a criminal network suspected of using small boats to smuggle up to 10 000 migrants across the English Channel over the last 12 to 18 months.

Judicial and law enforcement authorities in France, Belgium, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Poland and Slovenia have carried out a coordinated action against the use of illegal drugs in cycling races. Furthermore the Danish Police have carried out a search at one of the Tour de France hotels in Copenhagen. The action was supported by Eurojust and Europol.

The 4th EuroMed Forum of Prosecutors General brought together high-level public prosecution officials from all EU Member States as well as from seven South Partner Countries. The forum participants discussed the 2022-2025 Cross-Mediterranean Strategy, with the aim of deepening collaboration and developing shared perspectives to fight cross-border crime.

Amalia Bakaloni took up her duties as the new National Member for Greece at Eurojust, replacing Paraskevas Adamis, who was National Member from 2017 until 2022. Ms Bakaloni has extensive experience in international judicial cooperation and was previously Vice-President of the Hellenic Association of Prosecutors.

Tricia Harkin was appointed Eurojust National Member for Ireland in September 2022. She replaces Frank Cassidy, who has been the National Member since 2014. Mr Cassidy will remain at Eurojust as Deputy National Member until November.

Mr Evert van Walsum has been appointed as the new Administrative Director of Eurojust by the College of the Agency. In his new role, Mr van Walsum will be responsible for the day-to-day administration and implementation of key organisational developments such as the recent extension of Eurojust's mandate and comprehensive digitalisation efforts. Mr van Walsum (53) is currently serving as the Head of the Investors and Issuers Department at the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and will take up his duties in early 2023, serving a term of four years.

On 16 October, Eurojust opened its physical and virtual doors to receive visitors from near and far. The Open Day featured on-site presentations with live audio streaming, an activity area in the lobby, and a dedicated web page with expert talks on topics such as core international crimes and cybercrime.

The use of joint investigation teams (JITs) into core international crimes was the main topic of discussion at the 18th annual meeting of EU National Experts in this field. The meeting, hosted by the JITs Network Secretariat at Eurojust, focused, in particular, on the joint investigation team on alleged core international crimes in Ukraine.

Specialised public prosecutors from the United States and EU Member States will step up their cooperation to tackle major cross-border and intercontinental environmental crime. During a dedicated liaison meeting, hosted by Eurojust, officials discussed concrete steps towards this goal.

EuroMed Justice, the Belgian Judicial Training Institute and the Romanian National Institute of Magistracy have co-hosted a round table on the development of the curricula on international judicial cooperation in criminal matters in South Partner Countries and EU Member States.

Eurojust and the European Union Intellectual Property Office held the annual workshop of the European Intellectual Property Prosecutors Network at the Agency’s premises in The Hague, the Netherlands.

A delegation of 12 Members of the European Parliament visited Eurojust to learn about the Agency’s role in tackling environmental crime, and to discuss what the European Commission’s proposal for a new Environmental Crime Directive means for the Agency.

The European Union agencies active in the field of justice and home affairs have issued a joint paper on their contribution to the EU’s solidarity with Ukraine. It outlines the agencies' support to EU Member States and institutions in responding to the conflict and helping people affected and displaced by the war.

The Working Arrangement with the Ibero-American Association of Public Prosecutors Offices (AIAMP) enables Eurojust to step up the fight against globally operating organised crime groups. It gives the Agency and national judicial authorities better access to specialised Latin American prosecution services.