Brussels, 23/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - In 2009, the European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit, Eurojust, recorded a further increase in cases submitted by the member states. In total, around 1,372 cases were referred to the agency, representing a 15% increase on the previous year, a report by The Hague-based Eurojust announces. Further to a recommendation of the Council, the report focuses on the operational activities of Eurojust in light of EU priorities: drugs trafficking, terrorism, trafficking in human beings, fraud, corruption, cyber-crime, money laundering and other activities related to the presence of organised criminal groups in the economy. Eurojust held 131 coordination meetings in 2009, at which the investigators and public prosecutors met to ensure that efficient use was being made of the resources of the member states in cross-border criminal cases. The 2009 Eurojust annual report deals with each area of crime, looking at them from the point of view of legal cooperation and coordination. The report also contains information on obstacles, problems, best practice and the solutions found in legal cooperation. A total of 18 sample cases provide a solid illustration of Eurojust's added value. 2009 also saw progress in the implementation of the recent Council decision on the strengthening of Eurojust. This decision allows Eurojust to play a more effective role in helping the national authorities in the event of serious cross-border crime, the report stresses. Eurojust's annual report is available at: http: //http://www.eurojust.europa.eu/press_annual_report_2009.htm (B.C./transl.fl)