On 6 June 2025, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Latvia, with the support of the EJN Secretariat, hosted the fourth EJN Regional Contact Point meeting in Riga. The event focused on Current Challenges in the Application of the Mutual Recognition Principle in Financial Penalties and Probation Measures: Assessing the Effectiveness of Decentralization in Latvia.
The meeting brought together EJN Contact Points from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, representatives of the EJN Secretariat, Latvian judges, prosecutors, police officers, probation service experts, and policymakers. This diverse participation created a strong platform for exchange of experiences and practical insights.
A central theme of the discussions was the potential decentralization of cooperation under Council Framework Decision 2005/214/JHA on financial penalties and Council Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA on probation measures and alternative sanctions. While Latvia currently applies a centralized model, Lithuania has already opted for a decentralized approach, and Estonia has recently initiated discussions on this possibility. Participants highlighted that decentralization can enhance efficiency by fostering direct contacts between competent authorities, in line with broader EU trends and the principle of mutual trust underpinning mutual recognition.
Two main modules guided the debate:
- Challenges in enforcing financial penalties and probation measures under Framework Decisions 214 and 947, with reflections on the role and limits of decentralization;
- Assessment of resocialization ties in transferring sentenced persons, in the context of Council Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA on custodial sentences.
The meeting was opened by Mr Mihails PAPSUJEVIČS (State Secretary, Ministry of Justice) and Mrs Baiba Ziemele (Director of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Justice), chaired by Mrs Jūlija Muraru-Kļučica (EJN National Correspondent for Latvia) and Mrs Dace Mālniece (EJN Tool Correspondent for Latvia), who emphasized the importance of continued dialogue among practitioners and policymakers.
By bringing together regional expertise, the EJN Regional meeting in Riga underscored the need for practical and legal discussions on decentralization as a means to strengthen international judicial cooperation and ensure effective application of EU mutual recognition instruments.