The European Public Prosecutor’s Office and International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters Cover Image

Úřad evropského veřejného žalobce a mezinárodní justiční spolupráce ve věcech trestních
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office and International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters

Author(s): Přemysl Polák
Subject(s): EU-Legislation
Published by: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Nakladatelství Karolinum
Keywords: European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO); international judicial cooperation in criminal matters; criminal jurisdiction; legal assistance; surrender of a person; extradition; transfer of criminal pr

Summary/Abstract: This article explores the possible impact of the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) on international judicial cooperation in criminal matters. The starting point is the clarification that the EPPO is the authority that does not exercise the criminal jurisdiction of the EU, but the criminal jurisdictions of the EU member states bound by Regulation (EU) 2017/1939. It means that not only the relations between the EPPO and the criminal jurisdictions of the EU member states not bound by Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 and between the EPPO and the criminal jurisdictions of non-member states of the EU have the character of international judicial cooperation in criminal matters, but also the internal relations within the EPPO between the criminal jurisdictions exercised by the EPPO. Each of the three different areas of international judicial cooperation in criminal matters is then separately analysed and the analyses are followed by concluding remarks. While the international judicial cooperation in criminal matters between the EPPO and the EU member states not bound by Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 will probably at least remain on the current level of judicial cooperation between the EU member states, the international judicial cooperation in criminal matters between the EPPO and non-member states of the EU is at risk of worsening (compared to the current level of judicial cooperation between the EU member states and non-member states of the EU), depending on the willingness of non-member states of the EU to cooperate with the EPPO as a new actor on the stage. On the other hand, the international judicial cooperation between the EU member states bound by Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, i. e. within the EPPO, might be better than the current level of judicial cooperation between the EU member states, partly due to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 (although they are not too innovative) and partly due to the fact that higher level of willingness to cooperate is expected “under one roof” of the EPPO than between the authorities of various EU member states.

  • Issue Year: 65/2019
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 45-58
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Czech