Dear reader,

Welcome to Eurojust’s second newsletter of 2022. I remember writing for the first one that it had been a busy first quarter at Eurojust, and I am confident I speak on everyone’s behalf that this has not been different in recent weeks and months. As the armed conflict in Ukraine rages on, it continues to shape the work and responsibilities of Eurojust.

Margarita Šniutytė-Daugėlienė, National Member for Lithuania, was elected Eurojust Vice-President on 28 June 2022. Ms Šniutytė-Daugėlienė has been representing the Lithuanian judiciary at Eurojust since 2019 and will serve a mandate of four years with immediate effect.

The European Commissioners for Justice and Home Affairs, Mr Didier Reynders and Ms Ylva Johansson, visited the Agency to discuss the next steps in view of the amendment of the Eurojust Regulation. The European Parliament adopted the amendment, which enables Eurojust to gather and store evidence on core international crimes committed in Ukraine.

The judicial authorities of Estonia, Latvia and Slovakia have become members of the joint investigation team on alleged core international crimes, which has been set up with the support of Eurojust. The Prosecutors General of the three EU Member States signed an agreement to join the JIT, together with their counterparts from Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.

Investigations and prosecutions of the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes (known collectively as core international crimes) have steadily risen within the European Union since 2016. A total of 1 547 new cases were opened in 2021, compared with 1 073 in 2016, which represents a 44% increase. In 2021, 3 171 cases were ongoing across all Member States. These are some of the findings presented during the 7th EU Day Against Impunity for Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes, organised by the French Presidency of the Council, the European Commission, Eurojust and the Genocide Network.

ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan QC and the Prosecutors General of the three countries involved signed an agreement on the first-ever participation of the Office of the Prosecutor in a JIT.

As a part of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the French Embassy in the Netherlands organised a seminar on some of the current internal security challenges of the European Union and the cross-border judicial cooperation that needs to be developed in response.

Supported by Eurojust and Europol, 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. It is believed to be the biggest ever international operation targeting small boat people smugglers.

Supported by Eurojust, authorities in Germany and Luxembourg have carried out a coordinated action against the use of illegal emission devices in cars produced by two South Korean companies. During an action day, eight searches were carried out and communication data, software and planning documents were seized.

Authorities in Germany and Romania have dismantled a criminal network suspected of defrauding the German state of up to EUR 2 million in child benefits. During an action day supported by Eurojust, one suspect was arrested and 44 places were searched in both countries.

With support from Eurojust, authorities in Romania and the United Kingdom have taken action against an organised crime group involved in the trafficking of Romanian women for sexual exploitation in the United Kingdom.

Supported by Eurojust, judicial and law enforcement authorities in Italy and Albania have dismantled a criminal network suspected of committing fraud against the Italian national health system, as well as corruption and drug trafficking. During an action day, nine suspects were arrested.

A 22-year-old suspected of committing several terrorist and extremist crimes has been arrested in Slovakia. In an action supported by Eurojust, Europol and the United States, Slovak and Czech authorities searched two locations and seized a 3D printer and printed metal parts of weapons, computers and other electronic devices.

Authorities in Italy, Spain and the Netherlands conducted an operation against a major drug trafficking network, which allegedly used the art trade in the Netherlands to launder the profits of its illegal business. Eurojust coordinated and supported the action, which led to the arrest of 24 suspects.

At the request of the Estonian authorities, Eurojust and Europol have assisted the takedown of an online investment fraud scheme, which defrauded victims of at least EUR 20 million. Authorities in six countries supported the operation during which more than fifty servers and services were seized.

Italian and Austrian authorities have dismantled a massive fraud scheme set up by a criminal network that used Italian companies to simulate business leases and false tax credits. The perpetrators deprived the Italian authorities of at least EUR 440 million. With the help of Eurojust, approximately 90% of the proceeds have been recovered.

Jan MacLean has started as new National Member for Germany at Eurojust, succeeding former Vice-President of the Agency Klaus Meyer-Cabri. Mr MacLean has long-standing experience and expertise in international judicial cooperation, including involvement in the implementation and revision of the legal basis of Eurojust.

In a dedicated conference, judicial practitioners from EU Member States and the South Partner Countries shared good practices for the more effective application of environmental law. The main aim of the event was to explore the development of a network of magistrates specialised in environmental law on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea.

Ransomware has become a global problem that requires cooperation on a worldwide level. Judicial experts and practitioners from the European Union and the United States participated in a two-day workshop in The Hague organised by Eurojust and the U.S. Department of Justice. The event aimed to share best practices and enhance collaboration in confronting ransomware attacks.

On 15-17 June 2022 the 59th Plenary Meeting of the European Judicial Network (EJN), held under the French Presidency of the Council of the EU, took place in Bordeaux, France.

Organised by the European Commission, together with Eurojust, the first informal meeting of the focus group of specialised prosecutors against trafficking in human beings brought together prosecutors and judges from the European Union Member States.

The 12th Plenary Meeting of the European Judicial Cybercrime Network (EJCN) focused on the new challenges posed by cryptocurrencies to law enforcement and judicial authorities. Hosted by Eurojust in a hybrid format, the EJCN Plenary also paid special attention to the implications of the war in Ukraine in cyber-enabled crime.

Michael Schmid is returning to Eurojust to take up his new role as National Member for Austria, replacing Gerhard Jarosch. Until last year, Mr Schmid was a deputy National Member at the Agency, and previously an assistant at the Austrian desk. In his previous role at Eurojust, he was Vice-Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Team among his other responsibilities.

The 31st plenary meeting of the Genocide Network, convened by the French Presidency, took take place on 6 and 7 April 2022 in a hybrid format. The notion and use of structural investigations in relation to core international crimes cases was discussed during the first half of the Open Session (6 April). The second part of the day delved into main highlights of the Koblenz trial, concerning a high-ranking Syrian official convicted for crimes against humanity. Various perspectives (from investigators, forensic experts, prosecutors, victims and civil society) provided an in-depth overview of the trial and underlined best practices.

The Nuremberg Academy hosted the third 'Joint Training on the Investigation and Prosecution of Core International Crimes', organised in Nuremberg by the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) and the Genocide Network Secretariat (GNS) hosted by Eurojust, from 22 to 24 June 2022.