Today, the European Parliament voted in favour of the signing of an agreement of cooperation in criminal matters between Eurojust, the European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit, and Georgia, the first agreement ever to be concluded with a State of the South Caucasus region. The agreement, if subsequently approved by the Council, will unlock the possibility of a more robust exchange of information in criminal investigations between the two parties.
The agreement will help Eurojust better target Georgian organised crime groups that are transnationally active and pose a major threat to security in Europe. For Georgia, the agreement will be an important tool to meet its international commitment to prevent and fight organised crime.
Eurojust’s President, Mr Ladislav Hamran, said: ‘I warmly welcome the European Parliament’s vote on the draft cooperation agreement with Georgia, as it will offer the possibility to establish a practical partnership in the fight against serious organised crime with a State of the South Caucasus region. Today’s vote is an important step towards concluding an operational agreement with Georgia, which will facilitate the investigation and prosecution of organised crime both in Georgia and the European Union.’
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union