In view of strengthening the cooperation between the EU Member States and the EJN Contact Points (CPs) in the Western Balkans, on 8 Dec 2020 the 2nd annual meeting between the EJN CPs in the EU and in the Western Balkan region. The meeting, held under the DE Presidency, took place online. CPs from the Western Balkan region and from 18 EU Member States participated in this online meeting, as well EJN partners from SEEPAG/SELEC and from financed project “Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans”, financed by the European Commission.
Discussions focused first of all, on extradition, including challenges of extradition of nationals as well as practical issues in relation to double citizenship. The participants also discussed judicial cooperation between the EU and Western Balkans in light of COVID-19 measures across Europe. Experiences were shared on how COVID-19 measures have affected the communication with other countries and between EU and the Western Balkan.
Finally, the internal functioning of the EJN was discussed. CPs shared their experience with EJN Regional meetings. The representatives from the “Countering Serious Crime in the Western Balkans” emphasised the possibility of cooperation on the EJN Regional meetings in the coming years. EJN Secretariat presented the EJN reporting tool to the participants and invited the CPs in the Western Balkan region to use the tool on regular basis.
You can find the report of the meeting and other relevant documents in our Registry