The European Judicial Network (EJN) is a network of national contact points for the facilitation of judicial cooperation in criminal matters. The EJN was created by Joint Action 98/428 JHA of 29 June 1998 to fulfil recommendation n°21 of the Action Plan to Combat Organised Crime adopted by the Council on 28 April 1997.
In December 2008, a new legal basis entered into force, Council Decision 2008/976/JHA of 16 December 2008 on the European Judicial Network (hereinafter the “EJN Decision”), which reinforced the legal status of the EJN, while maintaining the spirit of 1998.
The EJN is composed of Contact Points in the Member States designated by each Member State among central authorities in charge of international judicial cooperation and the judicial authorities or other competent authorities with specific responsibilities in the field of international judicial cooperation.
The main role of the EJN Contact Points, defined by the EJN Decision as “active intermediaries”, is to facilitate judicial cooperation in criminal matters between the EU Member States, particularly in actions to combat forms of serious crime. To this end, they assist with establishing direct contacts between competent authorities and by providing legal and practical information necessary to prepare an effective request for judicial cooperation or to improve judicial cooperation in general.
Moreover, the EJN Contact Points are involved in and promote the organisation of training sessions on judicial cooperation.
Among the EJN Contact Points, each Member State has designated a National Correspondent, who has a coordinating role. In each Member State there is also a Tool Correspondent who ensures that the information on the EJN website is provided and updated, including the electronic tools of the EJN.
The EJN has a Secretariat located at Eurojust in The Hague, responsible for the administration of the EJN. The EJN Secretariat ensures the functioning and continuity of the network.