In his opening remarks, Eurojust President Michael Schmid highlighted the importance of these themes, stating: Both topics go to the very heart of what Eurojust stands for—facilitating cooperation across borders, connecting practitioners, and ensuring that justice can keep pace with increasingly complex and global criminal phenomena.

The meeting began with an update on the JITs Collaboration Platform, one of the key deliverables of Eurojust’s Digital Criminal Justice Programme. This secure IT platform, developed by eu-LISA, will serve as a cornerstone for modern, fast, and traceable judicial cooperation.

JITs have proven to be an essential and highly effective instrument for conducting cross-border investigations and prosecutions within the EU and beyond, with Eurojust and the JITs Network Secretariat supporting nearly 370 JITs so far in 2025. However, practical challenges, particularly secure exchanges of information and evidence, impede their ability to reach maximum efficiency. The forthcoming JITs Collaboration Platform directly addresses these needs, providing a practical response to the requirements of investigators and prosecutors on the ground.

Throughout the morning programme, updates from eu-LISA, the European Commission, Eurojust and the JITs Network Secretariat were shared on the various aspects of the platform, shedding light on the collaborative efforts behind its creation. Discussions also covered an update on the JIT model agreement, and training strategies to support the platform's implementation.

The afternoon session focused on the involvement of customs authorities into JITs. Combatting cross-border crime often starts long before legal proceedings with an initial alert sounded at a border, port or airport. Enhancing collaboration between customs authorities and JITs is crucial to enable the dismantling of criminal networks from the moment the illicit activity is detected through the final prosecution.

Representatives from Eurojust and Europol shared their insights, followed by case presentations from JIT practitioners from different countries. These presentations underscored the vital role of customs officers in detecting and combating cross-border crime.

On the second day, JIT National Experts visited the Port of Rotterdam to gain firsthand insights into the Dutch Customs' role in detecting and combating cross-border crime. The visit included a general presentation and a thematic tour, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of customs operations.

Since it was established in 2005, the JITs Network has been pivotal in advancing cross-border collaboration by supporting practitioners and encouraging the use of JITs. Annual meetings provide a vital forum for JIT National Experts to discuss challenges and opportunities in international cooperation, while also sharing experiences and best practices.