Eurojust sluit samenwerkingsakkoord met Liechtenstein (en)

The Hague, 07 June 2013

Negotiations having been successfully concluded between Eurojust and the Principality of Liechtenstein, both parties signed a cooperation agreement during the JHA Council meeting in Luxembourg on 7 June.

Cooperation between Eurojust and third States has proved to be a successful means of combating serious organised cross-border crime. Therefore, agreements such as this one with the Principality of Liechtenstein can help to accelerate or facilitate the execution of extradition and mutual legal assistance requests, clarify legal requirements and relevant legislation and identify competent national authorities.

Eurojust has concluded cooperation agreements with the following third States: Norway, Iceland, the USA, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Switzerland, and is in negotiation with other third States. See Agreements concluded by Eurojust.

In 2012, third States were represented on 49 occasions at Eurojust coordination meetings.

The cooperation agreement between Eurojust and Liechtenstein governs closer cooperation, as well as provision for the exchange of operational information, including personal data, in accordance with Eurojust’s data protection rules. It also provides for the possibility for Liechtenstein to second a Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust and for Eurojust to post a Liaison Magistrate to Liechtenstein.

The agreement was signed by HE Thomas Zwiefelhofer, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Justice and Economic Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein, and Ms Michèle Coninsx, President of Eurojust. In addition to the signatories, Mr Pascal Schafhauser, Officer of the Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein to the EU, and Ms Catherine Deboyser, Head of the Legal Service at Eurojust, were present.

After signing the agreement, Ms Coninsx stated: “The exchange of operational information between Eurojust and the Principality of Liechtenstein will enable us to fight organised crime more effectively within Europe, especially in the field of financial crime. The Principality of Liechtenstein will be a valuable cooperating partner in this effort.”

HE Thomas Zwiefelhofer commented: “This cooperation agreement with Eurojust will greatly assist us in combating all forms of serious organised cross-border crime. Relations with Eurojust have been good in the past, and we hope for continuing and more intensive cooperation.”

For more information on Eurojust, please contact:

Mr Joannes THUY, Spokesperson - Head of Press & PR Service

EUROJUST - Maanweg 174, 2516 AB, The Hague, the Netherlands

Tel +31 70 412 5508

E-mail: jthuy@eurojust.europa.eu