Strategic seminar on Eurojust and the Lisbon treaty

Press invitation

On 21 and 22 September 2010, Eurojust, in cooperation with the Belgian Presidency of the European Union, held a strategic seminar, “Eurojust and the Lisbon Treaty: towards more effective action”.

The seminar was hosted by the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium.

The goal of the seminar was to reflect on the development of Eurojust in light of the Stockholm Programme and in particular the new regulations for Eurojust (under Article 85 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – TFEU), and the possible establishment of a European Public Prosecutor's Office from Eurojust (under Article 86 of the TFEU).

Honoured guest speakers were HE Ms. Viviane Reding, Vice-President and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship of the European Commission; HE Mr. Stefaan De Clerck, Justice Minister of Belgium; Mr. Aled Williams, President of Eurojust and National Member for the United Kingdom; Ms. Michèle Coninsx, Vice-President of Eurojust and National Member for Belgium; Mr. Paul Demaret, Rector of the College of Europe; and Mr. Johan Delmulle, Federal Prosecutor of Belgium.

The seminar combined presentations by experts in the field of judicial cooperation with in-depth workshop discussions dedicated to both of the topics mentioned. The workshops focussed on reasons why better coordination and cooperation between the judicial authorities of the Member States and Eurojust is needed, and considered how the European Public Prosecutor's Office might be established “from Eurojust”.

The workshops were introduced by Professor Anne Weyembergh, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium; and Professor André Klip, Maastricht University, the Netherlands. Chairs of the workshops were distinguished judicial experts. Participants were professionals and judicial practitioners from the Member States and representatives of EU institutions.

At the end of the seminar, a panel discussion was led by Professor Jörg Monar, Director of the European Political and Administrative Studies Department.

A press meeting was scheduled on 21 September.

This was NOT an open conference, for more information, please contact: Mr. Joannes THUY, Press Officer & Spokesperson, Eurojust Tel: +31 70 412 5508 E-mail: jthuy [at] eurojust.europa.eu