Cross-border judicial cooperation in Latin America

Cross-border judicial cooperation is moving forward in Latin America thanks to the work of Latin American prosecutors together with the assistance programme against transnational organised crime EL PAcCTO and that of the European Union agency for criminal judicial cooperation, Eurojust, who have organised a high-level online meeting.  

The main agreement of the meeting focused on the future establishment of contact points in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama, ensuring that Eurojust will have links in more than 60 countries around the world.  

Contact Points are an essential element for cooperation with the competent authorities of third countries, ensuring that there are quick links between judicial authorities and provide vital information and support to combat cross-border crime.  

Anna Terrón, the director of FIIAPP, an agency that co-leads EL PAcCTO together with Expertise France, highlighted the importance of the programme in establishing networks between Latin America and the European Union, as well as the need to work on a shared agenda.  

The co-director of EL PAcCTO, Xavier Cousquer, emphasised the importance of establishing formal contacts between Eurojust and the Latin American prosecutors offices, as well as promoting one of the main objectives of the programme which focused on promoting international judicial cooperation.   

For Eurojust’s President, Ladislav Hamran, the new contact points are of great importance for Eurojust, especially within the current context of expanding international crime which makes the joint work of judicial authorities on a global scale essential.  

The meeting was also attended by the director for the Americas of the European External Action Service (EEAS)., the deputy director of Criminal Justice of the Directorate General for Justice of the European Commission and the head of unit of the General Directorate of International Associations of the European Commission. The event also featured the president of theAIAMP and the National Attorney of Chile, the attorney generals of Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, the attorney general in charge of Panama and the deputy attorney general of El Salvador. All highlighted their commitment to strengthening relations with the European Union through more effective judicial cooperation.