The ambassadors of the Member States to the EU (Coreper) gave the green light on Wednesday 24 February to open negotiations for cooperation agreements between Eurojust and 13 third countries (see EUROPE 12660/9).
In November 2020, the European Commission had recommended to the EU Council that it be given a mandate to negotiate agreements between the EU and 10 third countries - Algeria, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey - on cooperation between Eurojust and the competent judicial authorities of those countries (see EUROPE 12606/13).
The EU Council proposes to include Argentina, Colombia and Brazil in the list as well (see EUROPE 12637/15).
It should be noted that two statements were annexed to the texts and minutes of the meeting. The first comes from the European Commission, which challenges the additions made by the EU Council in terms of the legal basis in the text.
The second was made by Cyprus, which refuses to include Turkey in the list of third countries with which negotiations will be conducted, because of its discriminatory policy towards Cyprus.
The EU Council decision and negotiating directives will be formally adopted by written procedure. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)