Below is the text of a press release of the EU Delegation to BiH.
28.10.2024
Press and information team of the Delegation to BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
In the margins of the EU-Western Balkan Ministerial Forum in Budva, Montenegro, the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, and the Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina Davor Bunoza signed today a cooperation agreement on Eurojust, the EU’s agency for criminal justice cooperation. This agreement aims to strengthen BiH’s coordination with EU judicial bodies, increasing the efficiency of investigations and prosecutions related to organised crime, terrorism, human trafficking, cybercrime, and other transnational criminal activities.
Eurojust works to enhance cross-border cooperation in tackling serious crime, supporting national authorities in investigating and prosecuting cases that require coordination across borders. With this agreement, BiH will be able to post a Liaison Prosecutor at Eurojust, allowing for direct engagement in joint investigations and access to Eurojust’s operational tools, enhancing BiH’s capacity to manage complex international cases.
The Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative in BiH, Ambassador Luigi Soreca highlighted the broader significance of the agreement.
“The cooperation agreement with Eurojust is a significant achievement for Bosnia and Herzegovina on its EU path. By enabling closer judicial cooperation, including the posting of a BiH Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust, BiH will be better equipped to address serious crime in alignment with EU standards. We encourage swift ratification of the agreement as well as the adoption and implementation of associated reforms, in particular the Law on Personal Data Protection, to unlock the full potential of this partnership,” said Ambassador Soreca.
Ratification of the agreement and the adoption of a new Law on Personal Data Protection, aligned with EU standards, are essential next steps. After full operationalization of the cooperation with EUROPOL and conclusion of a Working Arrangement with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in 2023, this agreement is a key development in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration with the EU’s framework for law enforcement and justice cooperation.
