The number of terrorism cases supported by Eurojust at the request of the national authorities has continually increased, with 87 terrorism cases in 2017 alone. Terrorism cases have a high degree of complexity and the need for swift and efficient multi-lateral action. Eurojust can assist in the exchange of information, the facilitation of the execution of mutual legal assistance and extradition requests, European Arrest Warrants and European Investigation Orders, and in the setting up of joint investigation teams.

Yesterday, Eurojust hosted the visit of Mr François Molins, Chief Prosecutor of Paris. He met with the French Desk, led by Mr Frederic Baab, National Member, as well as Mr Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust, Mr Nick Panagiotopoulos, Administrative Director, and Mr Vincent Jamin, Head of the Operations Department. Mr Molins was accompanied by Ms Veronique Degermann, Deputy Prosecutor of Paris, and Ms Camille Hennetier, Vice-Prosecutor and Head of the Anti-Terrorism Unit of the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office.

European Judicial Counter-Terrorism Register
Mr Molins attended Eurojust's annual seminar on counter-terrorism in June 2018, which focused on the judicial response to the return of foreign terrorist fighters and support to victims of terrorist attacks. During the seminar, a joint declaration by the Ministers of Justice of France, Germany, Belgium and Spain was circulated, calling for the reinforcement of the sharing and centralisation of information with Eurojust on current investigations and convictions for terrorist offences, the proactive establishment of possible links between cases and the identification of coordination needs for investigations.

Background

The Chief Prosecutor of Paris has jurisdiction over the Court of Paris, multiregional jurisdiction over organised crime and public health offences, and national jurisdiction over international corruption, weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. The Paris Chief Prosecutor's Office is the largest in the European Union. It has 136 prosecutors and over 350 civil servants, and is organised into six divisions and 16 sections, specialised in diverse criminal areas.

Mr Molins is a career prosecutor, having worked in Corsica, Lyon, Angers and Bobigny. After his appointment as Deputy Attorney General to the Judicial Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation) in 2009, he served as Chief of Staff (Directeur de cabinet du Garde des sceaux) at the Ministry of Justice until November 2011, at which time he took up his current role.

Photo © Eurojust. Mr Molins is fifth from the left.