MEP Malik Azmani (Renew Europe, Netherlands) presented his draft report on the regulation setting up a collaboration platform for Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) to his colleagues on Monday 27 June.
The platform provides a centralised information system to enable the temporary storage of data, as well as a secure communication tool.
The European Commission presented its proposal for a regulation in its package for the modernisation of justice in December 2021 (see EUROPE 12844/12). The Member States adopted their general approach to the text in June (see EUROPE 12968/9).
The rapporteur has proposed a text close to that of the Commission, but asks to add guarantees, on the one hand, on the possibilities of participation in the platform for international judicial authorities, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and, on the other hand, on data protection.
He also wants to bring forward the launch date of the platform so that it is operational as soon as possible. “The Commission foresees the first use of the tool in 2026. This is the reason I will try to work with my colleagues to advance the starting date of the platform by at least one year”, said Malik Azmani on 27 June. He considers that the work of the joint investigation teams must be able to be carried out effectively, particularly in the current context of war in Ukraine. A joint investigation team was set up in March to investigate war crimes in Ukraine (see EUROPE 12920/3).
The different groups in the European Parliament broadly agreed with the rapporteur’s proposals. For them, it is fundamental to ensure that the data that will circulate on the future platform is secure, to avoid any leakage of sensitive information concerning the investigations.
See the draft report by Malik Azmani: https://aeur.eu/f/2ck (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)