“EU Enhances Digital Information Exchange for Terrorism Cases with New Law”
The EU Council has approved a new law that facilitates digital information sharing in terrorism cases between national authorities and Eurojust. This improved exchange of information will enhance investigations and prosecutions of terrorist offenses, providing member state authorities and EU agencies with up-to-date information on terrorism cases.
Pilar Llop, Spain’s acting minister for justice, emphasized the significant advancement in information sharing enabled by this law. Previously, member states shared terrorism-related information with Eurojust through various, sometimes insecure, channels, and the existing judicial counter-terrorism register lacked effective cross-checking capabilities.
The newly adopted regulation addresses these shortcomings by establishing a modern, digital case-management system for storing and cross-referencing information. It empowers Eurojust to better detect connections between transnational terrorism investigations and prosecutions and to proactively inform member states about these links. Additionally, the law creates a secure digital communication channel between member states and Eurojust and streamlines cooperation with third countries by granting liaison prosecutors seconded to Eurojust access to the case-management system.
Eurojust, as the EU agency for criminal justice cooperation, plays a pivotal role in coordinating cross-border crime investigations and prosecutions in Europe. Member states are required to provide Eurojust with information on terrorism prosecutions and convictions.
The regulation, adopted in December 2021, reached its final text in December 2022 following agreement between the Council and European Parliament. It will come into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and will be directly applicable in all EU member states.