Structure and function of the EJN
The European Judicial Network (EJN) is a network of national contact points for the facilitation of judicial co-operation in criminal matters. The network was created by the Joint Action 98/428 JHA of 29 June 1998.
From the 24th of December 2008, a new legal basis entered into force, respectively the Council Decision 2008/976/JHA of 16 December 2008 on the European Judicial Network (hereinafter "the EJN Decision"), which reinforced the legal status of the EJN, while keeping its 1998 spirit.
The EJN is composed of Contact Points of the Member States, as well as of the European Commission and of a Secretariat based in The Hague.
The European Judicial Network shall operate in particular in the following three ways as provided in Article 3 of the EJN Decision:
- it shall facilitate the establishment of appropriate contacts between the Contact Points in the various Member States in order to carry out its functions (see below under EJN Contact Points);
- it shall organise periodic meetings;
- it shall constantly provide a certain amount of up-to-date background information on a website.
Useful links:
EJN leaflets in all EU languages as well as EU candidate countries’ and potential candidates languages