European Judicial Organised Crime Network

The European Judicial Organised Crime Network (EJOCN) was established at Eurojust in 2024, by the conclusions of the Council of the European Union and based on a proposal by the European Commission.

The EJOCN’s aim is to facilitate exchanges of information and cooperation amongst judicial authorities dealing with organised crime, with the goal of improving strategic and operational results in the fight against organised crime. The complex and fast-evolving nature of major crimes in Europe make strengthening international judicial coordination necessary. The EJOCN goes beyond the investigation-based collaboration and combats organised crime strategically, forming direct connections between practitioners addressing these challenges.

The Network has a broad mandate to address all aspects of the fight against organised crime. As a first priority, the Council of the European Union proposed for the EJOCN to focus on the illegal trafficking of drugs, in particular through seaports used by organised crime groups to import and transport illegal drugs across Europe. The EJOCN maintains its flexible mandate, and establishes further priorities in its work plans, including addressing horizontal and structural elements of organised criminal networks and activities.

Objectives

The EJOCN will facilitate the exchange of expertise, experience, and practical guidance in the investigation and prosecution of organised crime. It will foster dialogue and build professional connections among practitioners to better support strategic developments; address the structural, poly criminal and leadership aspects of organised crime; and assist in achieving better operational results in the fight against criminal networks.

Through its regular meetings, interactions, and activities, the EJOCN will equip practitioners with the connections, knowledge, and experience to address the legal and practical challenges encountered in the fight against organised crime.

As key gateways to Europe, seaports are not only important hubs for trade but also serve as an epicentre for crime. 70% of drug seizures done by customs take place in seaports. The availability of illicit drugs continues to increase, making drug trafficking one of the most lucrative revenue sources for international criminals. Over the past 20 years, Eurojust has built up a solid track record in providing operational, technical, logistical and financial support to national prosecutors active in the fight against organised crime. The work of the EJOCN benefits from Eurojust’s unique operational expertise in setting up joint investigation teams and using other judicial cooperation tools in cross-border criminal investigations.

Membership

The EJOCN is hosted by Eurojust; the Agency also participates in all activities in the network.

Its Members are composed of National Contact Points, who are prosecutors or investigative judges appointed by EU Member States.

The Network is also composed of Associate Partners and Observers. Europol, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) are Associate Partners; this status can also be granted to third countries. The European Commission participates in the EJOCN as an Observer; Observer status can be granted to other EU institutions and agencies, as well as international organisations and judicial networks.

News from the network

Launch Event of the Network.

On 25 and 26 September 2024, Eurojust organised and hosted the EJOCN launch event. During this meeting high-level representatives and prosecutors appointed by EU Member States, as well as Eurojust, Europol, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the European Commission exchanged views, needs, expectations and approaches on the fight against drug-related organised crime; and focused on the potential scope, vision and practical functioning of the EJOCN.

Read the outcome report

First Plenary Meeting

The EJOCN held its first Plenary Meeting on 19-20 March 2025. Participants gathered to discuss the functioning and working areas of the network, establish its immediate and long-term priorities, and build working relationships among its Members. Chaired by the Polish Presidency, the event covered presentations on the latest casework and policy developments in the fight against organised crimes groups and drug trafficking, conducted workshops to establish the guidelines and work plan of the Network, and held a closed session for the exchange of non-personal operational information to share expertise among practitioners and enhance cooperation efforts.

Publications

European Judicial Organised Crime Network: Outcome report of the launch event

13 January 2025|AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH

The fight against drug-related organised crime is a priority for the EU and its Member States. Following a proposal from the European Commission, endorsed by the Ministers of Justice from all EU Member States, the European Judicial Organised Crime Network (EJOCN) was officially launched on 25-26...

Focus Group

To further strengthen the fight against trafficking in human beings, Eurojust supports a Focus Group for Prosecutors on Trafficking in Human Beings. Composed of judicial experts specialised in fighting trafficking in human beings from all EU Member States, as well as representatives from selected third countries, the Focus Group brings together all concerned actors in the security and criminal justice chain.

The Focus Group on Trafficking in Human Beings serves as an important hub to regularly connect the key judicial actors at national level in the EU Member States and beyond, and support their joint operational response.

Key activities include:

sharing best practices from significant human trafficking investigations;
improving the quality and consistency of prosecutions through judicial cooperation;
analysing trends and developments in trafficking in human beings;
gathering input from judicial practitioners on current specific challenges and discussing opportunities for closer judicial cooperation in fighting this serious form of cross-border crime.

In addition to facilitating regular information exchange and ensuring the functioning of the Focus Group, Eurojust organises an annual meeting, which is co-organised in close partnership with the European Commission, EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator.

Evolution of the Focus Group

In April 2021, the Commission issued the EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings (2021-2025) which sets out several key actions. One of these actions call on the European Commission to facilitate, together with Eurojust, the creation of a focus group of specialised prosecutors against trafficking in human beings, with a view to intensify judicial cooperation.

The creation of the Focus Group was launched in June 2022 as part of the implementation of the EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings (2021–2025). The group also works in coordination with relevant EU agencies and networks active in the fight against trafficking in human beings.

“Eurojust should facilitate the establishment of a focus group of specialised prosecutors to exchange experience and facilitate cross-border cooperation in tackling trafficking in human beings.”
— EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings (2021–2025)

Partners: EJOCN