Justice institutions unite in the fight against transnational crime

The First High-level Meeting between Latin American Justice Institutions and the European Union (EU) has been held. The event had the aim of strengthening relations between states and justice institutions to combat transnational organised crime through effective cooperation between Latin America and the European Union.

This first institutional coordination space was organised by EL PAcCTO, the assistance programme against transnational organised crime, financed by the European Union  and in whose management the FIIAPP participates. The Spanish Minister of  Justice, Juan Carlos Campo, along with the director of FIIAPP, Anna Terrón, attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the director of the FIIAPP highlighted the fact that the European project EL PACcCTO meets the existing needs throughout the criminal justice system, ensuring that “those who defend justice have more facilities than those who try to attack it. That is the basis of European judicial cooperation”. In addition, he stressed that projects such as EL PAcCTO “reinforce Euro-Latin American cooperation” and that both regions are spaces of law that share common values and that need to continue on the path of establishing an open space for relationship and cooperation.

For his part, the Minister of Justice, Juan Carlos Campo, highlighted the privileged role that Spain has had as a link between the Americas and Europe and reaffirmed the country’s willingness to build bridges between both continents. He also pointed to institutional mechanisms as a key piece to advance cooperation against organised crime in Latin America and the EU.

Other high-level figures also attended, such as the Secretary General of the Confederation of Ministers of Justice of Ibero-American Countries ( COMJIB ), the head of the Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean of the General Directorate for International Cooperation and Development ( DEVCO ), Jorge de la Caballería and representatives of institutions such as the Ibero-American Association of Public Ministries of Ibero-America (AIAMP) , and Eurojust , the EU agency in charge of strengthening judicial cooperation among member states.

Jorge de la Caballería highlighted certain projects in whose management the FIIAPP is present, such as EUROFRONT , on integrated border and migration management, or COPOLAD and EL PAcCTO, in anti-drug matters as true laboratories for the exchange of good practices. He also pointed out that European Cooperation will continue to promote cooperation between Latin America and Europe since Justice and Security function as two sides of the same coin: “Justice does not work without security or security without justice, that is why absolute coordination is required.” In addition, he reached out to Latin American institutions, offering to listen and attend to their demands so that the exchange of experiences and cooperation between both regions is efficient and is able to combat transnational organised crime effectively.