Organised crime in Europe is evolving at an unprecedented pace, exploiting new technologies and geopolitical instability. Nearly 90% of the EU’s most threatening criminal groups have successfully infiltrated the legal economy[1], while 76% of them are active in two to seven countries[2]. Their profits are estimated at around EUR 139 billion annually[3]. Organised crime groups are becoming more violent, as cocaine traffickers, for example, compete for a market worth EUR 11 billion[4], equal to the diamond trade. 

These once-local groups are now transnational, spanning continents and currencies. With criminal organisations and their activities extending well beyond EU borders, international judicial cooperation is becoming increasingly important to tackle serious cross-border crime effectively. Eurojust’s growing partnerships are crucial in enabling this international judicial cooperation, which is necessary to keep our communities safe and get justice done.