EL PACCTO 2.0 programme has organised the first Structured Dialogue on Justice and Organised Crime, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from 3 to 4 March 2026.
Hugh Dockry, on behalf of the EJN, attended, together with Ms. Deirdre Thompson of the Irish DPP, as did Mr. Jose de la Mata, for Eurojust. Attendees included a broad range of justice-related authority representatives (attorney general offices, public prosecutor’s offices and central authorities) of the Caribbean countries as well as regional organisations such as CCJ, ECSC, CARICOM IMPACS and RSS) to explore whether a programme for the development of a Caribbean Judicial Network would be appropriate. For Eurojust, the Organised Crime Network (EJOCN) had a role to play. Hugh was part of a panel discussing key formal and informal initiatives to foster justice cooperation in a broad sense in the Caribbean and within Europe. He also moderated a working group on JITs.
In a practically manner, this technical meeting addressed key aspects of international legal cooperation against organised crime in the Caribbean and with the European Union. More precisely, issues with Mutual Legal Assistance, extraditions JITs and current regulatory frameworks, have been analysed.
Bases on real case examples, the main objectives of this meeting were:
- Promoting a justice dialogue based on common priorities to tackle transnational organised crime
- Identifying key working priorities in structuring a Caribbean-EU dialogue on justice and criminal matters
- Agreeing on roadmap and joint work activities.