Brussels, 14/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - Joint investigation teams which have been operational since 2005 were invited this week to a seminar organised by the European Police College (CEPOL). From 11 October to Friday 15 October, some 30 senior police officers and magistrates from all over Europe have met at the Ecole nationale supérieure de la police de Saint-Cyr-au-Mont d'Or in the town of Lyons (France) to discuss the fight against international crime through the use of joint investigation teams (JIT). In practice, JITs bring together magistrates, police and gendarmes from at least two countries so that they may work directly together. Although their number does fluctuate, it is currently estimated that about JITs are operational in Europe, with most of them in France. During the seminar, the professionals present examined studies of cases affecting their area of intervention: - children smuggling (for example, Romania), drugs, fraud and terrorism. Criminals have always crossed borders but JITs are not automatic. Early October, the EU's judicial cooperation unit (Eurojust), which partly coordinates JIT, received financial support of some €2.16 million until 2013 to support the broadest possible use of JITs in Europe. (B.C./transl.jl)