Brussels, 04/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - In mid-December 2000, the EU Council adopted a decision (published in the Official Journal L/324) setting up a Provisional Judicial Cooperation Unit, situated in Brussels and resting on the Council's infrastructures. This decision took effect the day of its adoption and will cease to apply when the Act takes effect establishing Eurojust, which should be adopted before the end of the year (see EUROPE of 2 December, p.9, for the declarations made by Ms. Lebranchu, French Justice Minister, at the end of the last JHA Council at Justice Minister level; the Council's President had, in particular, stressed that Eurojust was "not to be confused with a European prosecutor's office"). The experience gained through this provisional unit will serve as basis for drawing up the Act establishing Eurojust, the decision stipulates, which states that each Member States shall assign a prosecutor, judge or police officer of equivalent competence to perform the liaison duties necessary to step-up the fight against serious forms of organised crime. The members of the provisional unit may, in particular, organise missions in a Member State whose authorities are involved in a specific investigation or persecution and may meet, as necessary, in any place, the decision states.
The objectives of the provisional unit are to improve cooperation between the competent national authorities with regard to investigations and prosecutions in relation to serious crime, particularly when it is organised, involving two or more Member States. The members of the provisional unit should, as far as possible, provide support for the coordination and conduct of joint missions of enquiry.