European Judicial Network in criminal matters in highlight

Mário Belo Morgado highlighted the role of the Network of Judicial Contact Points between Member States as a strategic instrument in the fight against transnational crime, at a time when it assumes an increasing complexity and more sophisticated forms of action.

The Network is an instrument to facilitate judicial cooperation between Member States in cases of organised crime, "and this is essential, when we live in an age where no State, acting alone, has the capacity to deal with criminal phenomena of a transnational nature and dimension".

Crime in general and organised crime often occur in different jurisdictions, "at a vertiginous speed and with methods, methodologies and strategies that generate huge profits", pointed out the Deputy Minister of Justice. In this context, fighting transnational and organised crime and acting on the revenues it generates is only possible through organised forms of international cooperation, he argued.

"The fact is that the fight against crime has always involved strengthening dialogue and action between the judicial authorities of the various Member States in criminal matters. And this reinforcement is all the more necessary the more complex the criminal phenomena become".

The Network has been one of the essential mechanisms in the field of European judicial cooperation in criminal matters and will continue to be so in the coming years, assured Mário Belo Morgado, due to its fundamental role in the defence of an area of freedom, security and justice for the citizens of the European Union and as a strategic instrument in the fight against transnational and organised crime, helping to overcome the challenges and obstacles posed by the different legal systems of the Member States.

"We must bear in mind that we are living with expressive and increasingly subversive criminal phenomena. Corruption, money laundering, fraud and economic crime in general, in their various forms, are conducts that threaten the economy, confidence in institutions and the rule of law".

Regarding the challenges faced, it will be unavoidable to address the fight against the proceeds of crime. To this extent, the analysis of the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2018/1805 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 on the mutual recognition of freezing orders and confiscation orders is considered "particularly serious". For the Deputy Minister of Justice, the proper implementation of this instrument will allow to tighten the meshes of justice and put an end to the theory that crime pays.

Acknowledging the Network's important role "in the search for better and more fluid judicial cooperation between Member States", Mário Belo Morgado said he looked at the future development of judicial cooperation in Europe "with a strong sense of optimism". He also stressed that he is sure that the results of the meeting, under the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, "will be fruitful and will contribute to an increasingly robust and articulated response to the challenges in this area".