The sixth EuroMed Justice Network (EMJNet) meeting concluded its one day and half session on 22 October 2025, with a clear focus on fortifying judicial cooperation to tackle drug trafficking more effectively. The meeting, which took place in Palermo, Italy, brought together 32 criminal justice practitioners from 6 South Partner Countries (SPCs), and 10 European Union Member States participating in the EuroMed Justice project and Eurojust to share operational challenges and best practices, as well as to foster closer cooperation.
Participants identified operational best practices for tackling drug trafficking, drawing from studies of actual cases and practical experiences. They further produced recommendations that will be presented at the upcoming 22nd CrimEx meeting in December.
The gathering yielded valuable insights into enhancing the use of the EMJNet Directory for information sharing and the importance of awareness-raising initiatives at national level. The Directory allows direct contacts between competent authorities of the participating countries including those responsible for providing legal and practical information to support effective preparation of judicial cooperation requests.
In the margins of the event, bilateral meetings between SPCs and EU MS and SPCs and Eurojust representatives were organised. On the last day, SPC representatives attended a study visit to a local law enforcement agency – Squadra Mobile di Palermo - providing firsthand insights into ongoing efforts to tackle drug trafficking.
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union