Eurojust — the EU Judicial Coordination Body

What is Eurojust?

Eurojust (The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation) is an EU agency headquartered in The Hague. It supports and coordinates cross-border criminal prosecution measures between the EU member states and promotes the mutual recognition of decisions in criminal matters.

Role in extradition law

Eurojust is empowered to request the competent authorities of the member states to initiate or coordinate criminal prosecutions. In cases of concurrent jurisdiction — where several states have jurisdiction over the same offense — Eurojust recommends which state should be given jurisdiction. This can have a direct impact on extradition requests.

Coordination of joint investigation teams

Eurojust supports the establishment of joint investigation teams (JITs), in which law enforcement authorities from several states work together. The findings of these teams can become the basis for extradition requests.

Practical significance

For the criminal defense, Eurojust is relevant when the question of jurisdiction plays a role in complex transnational proceedings, or when proceedings are conducted in parallel in several states. Conflicts of jurisdiction can be used as a line of defense against an extradition.

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