The ‘Harmonization, Transferability, Support Tools: Reflections on Digitalization of Judicial Cooperation. The Experience of TREIO Project and Beyond’ Conference was organized under the umbrella of the ‘TRaining on European Investigation Order’ (TREIO) Project. The event took place in a hybrid mode at Albert Borschette Congress Center, Rue Froissart 36, Brussels, Belgium, on 24-25 January 2024.
Contextualizing on the use of e-Evidence Digital Exchange System (eEDES) to prepare and exchange EIO/MLA forms in a digital way, the TREIO Project has developed a Reference Training Framework on the European Investigation Order implementation. TREIO tools, offered in several languages, include
a comprehensive set of training materials that could be tailored to both professionals seeking in-depth training on EIO and professionals with extensive day-to-day experience in this judicial cooperation instrument
guidelines to each training session providing suggestions for carrying out the training, detailed information and additional references on the content covered and hands-on activities to activate learning on the eEDES
self-paced e-learning course based on TREIO training materials and providing for real-time training modalities via the eEDES Simulator
an eEDES Simulator of the EIO business flow (with customised auto-responder) and a full e-CODEX infrastructure to provide realistic message flows among trainees.
In cooperation with the ‘Simplifying Cross-Border Judicial Videoconferencing in Europe’ (SimpliVi) Project and the ‘International Court ApplicatioN for EPO’ (ICANEPO) Project, actively working towards expanding the digital supporting tools in judicial cooperation in both criminal and civil justice domains, the TREIO Project brought together decision-making professionals from central authorities, courts and prosecutor’s offices responsible for the implementation on judicial cooperation instruments in both criminal and civil justice domains at Member State level, high-ranking officials, project managers and heads of IT departments supporting them in the process, as well as officials responsible for the organizational and/or training aspects during the launch of new tools, to collectively share knowledge and experience and discuss recommended ways forward on the EU-wide application of the existing and future supporting tools.
Due to the limited capacity of the venue, competent authorities and key stakeholders were invited to designate up to two delegates to attend the event, until capacity of the venue is reached and pending registration prior to the deadline. For further conventions, the hybrid option was offered to all who were not able to participate on site.
Summary of Outcomes
The event provided for an all-round reflection on the digitalization of judicial cooperation, examining a number of efforts towards harmonization, transferability of results and development of key supporting tools, via a series of expert presentations and active discussions on:
- the European e-Justice Strategy and the different initiatives towards the digital enabling of judicial collaboration;
- the role of the community in the digitalization of justice;
- the national and international efforts in the domain and the role of training;
- the diversity in national (procedural) laws as a challenge to the process of digitalization and achieving the goals of judicial cooperation efficiency; and
- videoconferencing in a cross-border environment as a key supporting tool for the judicial work.
Focus of the Conference was placed on the TREIO Reference Training Framework providing an innovative environment using latest methodologies and tools, and the way forward of training in the digital justice domain and the possibilities for transferability of outcomes from one judicial cooperation instrument to another.
A total of 93 participants from 51 different organizations took part in the conference, including representatives of training organizations, civil society, academia and research institutions. Officials from 19 Member States' major stakeholders and 6 EU bodies were present.
All presentations and recordings of the sessions are available below by following the respective links. Should a person has not delivered a dedicated presentation, the relevant intervention can be found as part of the recordings.
Agenda & Presentations
Wednesday, 24th January 2024, 09.30 – 17.00 CET
| Time | Activity |
| 09.00 – 09.30 |
Registration & Welcome Coffee |
| 09.30 – 09.45 |
Opening by Maria Angela Biasiotti, Institute of Legal Informatics and Judicial Systems at the National Research Council, Italy |
| 09.45 – 11.00 |
e-Justice Strategy: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly The digital enabling of judicial collaboration in Europe is at full swing. The European Commission and Member States are actively working on the right legal and technical solutions to facilitate judicial collaboration in criminal and civil matters. This session aims at taking stock of the different initiatives going on and reflecting on the needs these developments give rise to. How do we cope with the training needs that come from these developments? Do we need structures to support an ecosystem of experts on the operation, legal and technical needs? Moderated by Maria Angela Biasiotti, Institute of Legal Informatics and Judicial Systems at the National Research Council, Italy Speakers: The New European e-Justice Strategy 2024-2028: A New Context, a Renewed Ambition, a Revised Method Alain Pilette, Deputy Director Justice, DG JAI Justice and Home Affairs at Council of the European Union e-EDES Reference Implementation Online Demo-site: Seeing is Believing! Cristian Nicolau, Head of Unit eJustice, IT and Document Management, DG Justice and Consumers, European Commission Recent Works of the Council of Europe on Cyberjustice and AI Marek Świerczyński, Member of the Advisory Board, Council of Europe European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) The National Perspective: Justice Folder - the Cornerstone of Interoperability in Spain Óscar Palomo Díaz, Head of Unit at the Communication & Interface Products Centre, Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament |
| 11.00 – 11.30 |
Coffee Break
|
| 11.30 – 12.45 |
Strategizing Towards Digitalization: The Role of the Community In the past few years, several legislative initiatives in the field of digitalization of justice have been adopted, that will require substantial technical and administrative follow-up actions at national level. Experience shows such activities have biggest success in delivering a working solution for e-Justice when supported by a strong community, building a broader perspective on e-Justice as an essential for the acceptance of the new digital tools. This session will focus on e-Justice community building and what a strong circle of trust means for the digitalization reform in progress, and what is the experience of the member states in this regard, and how-to recommendations on developing an expert ecosystem as a main part of the strategizing process. Moderated by Sandra Taal, Computerization and IT Policy Department, Ministry of Justice and Security (the Netherlands) Speakers: The Role of the Community in e-Justice Sandra Taal, Ministry of Justice and Security, The Netherlands Panel Discussion Huub Moelker, European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice Tim Holthaus, Ministry of Justice, North Rhine-Westphalia Mathias Maurer, Austrian Ministry of Justice Ioannis (Ion) Pagkalos, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece Alexandra Tsvetkova, LIBRe Foundation, Bulgaria |
| 12.45 – 13.45 | Lunch Break |
| 13.45 – 15.15 |
TREIO Training Tools. Prospects and Needs for Supporting Tools (in Criminal Justice) Under the TREIO Project some useful tools to carry out training on the European Investigation Order (EIO) and the use of e-Evidence Digital Exchange System (eEDES) in this regard have been realized. These tools were developed after a thorough analysis of the judicial reality in the different member states as to training strategies and actions. The TREIO Reference Training Framework has been tailor made to the different needs and requirements of the judicial scene. This session aims at sharing with the audience the TREIO achievements and – starting from this – to discuss the different perspectives and needs for such supporting tools. How can the tools be supportive to the different realities dealing with criminal justice at EU level? Are they applicable to civil justice as well? What future work should be performed? Moderated by Jeanne Mifsud Bonnici, University of Groningen, the Netherlands Speakers: TREIO Toolkit – Where Do We Stand Maria Angela Biasiotti, Institute of Legal Informatics and Judicial Systems at the National Research Council, Italy TREIO In-person Training Framework: Content, Materials, Guidelines Jeanne Mifsud Bonnici, University of Groningen, the Netherlands TREIO eEDES Simulator of the EIO Business Workflow Yiannis Salmatzidis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece Georgina Humphries, ECTEG - European Cybercrime Training and Education Group Panel Discussion: Training as a Supportive Environment for the Digitalization of Justice Antonia Giannakopoulou, Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Appeal of Athens, Greece Orlando Mascarenhas, Judicial Police and Criminal Sciences Institute, Portugal |
| 15.15 – 15.45 | Coffee Break |
| 15.45 – 17.00 |
Digital Judicial Files – National and International Efforts (and the Role of Training) Digitalization of judicial work has become an inevitable request by legal practitioners, citizens and judicial employees. These groups are not only ready to work digitally but they are even expecting that judicial authorities provide modern tools of work. No judicial administration can afford to ignore this development. But how do you do that? Which technical and legal obstacles will you face? In terms of change management: how does the human factor come into play when acting within such a change process? And, most important: how do you deal with all these challenges? This session will shed a light on these questions and present selected judicial digitalization initiatives that recently dealt with these challenges or are about to face them. Moderated by Bernhard Rieder, Austrian Ministry of Justice Speakers: Célia Santos, Judicial High Council, Portugal A Familiar Stranger – Digital Files in NRW, Germany Christoph Czaplik, Ministry of Justice, North Rhine-Westphalia Julia Wasmayr, Austrian Ministry of Justice Tim Holthaus, Ministry of Justice, North Rhine-Westphalia Mathias Maurer, Austrian Ministry of Justice |
| 17.00 |
Closing Remarks of the Day Maria Angela Biasiotti, Institute of Legal Informatics and Judicial Systems at the National Research Council, Italy |
| 19.30 | Welcome Drink & Social Dinner |
Thursday, 25th January 2024, 09.30 – 15.30 CET
| Time
| Activity |
| 09.00 – 09.30 | Registration & Welcome Coffee |
| 09.30 – 09.45 | Where Do We Stand: Summary of Day 1 Jeanne Mifsud Bonnici, University of Groningen, the Netherlands |
| 09.45 – 10.45 | Digital Harmonization vs. National Legal Frameworks’ Diversity: Challenges and Pitfalls During the different TREIO training activities, one common reflection by the participants has been that digital tools such as eEDES harmonise processes but the inherent diversity in national laws remains. This diversity in national (procedural) laws can be a challenge to the process of digitalization and ultimately to achieving the goals of European Union judicial cooperation efficiency. How are these challenges overcome in practice? This session looks at specific difficulties e.g. in interception of communication measures and in the rule of specialty in the EIO. Moderated by Jeanne Mifsud Bonnici, University of Groningen, the Netherlands Speakers: Digital Harmonization vs. National Legal Frameworks’ Diversity: Challenges and Pitfalls Jorge Espina, Assistant to the National Member for Spain, Spanish Desk at Eurojust Panel Discussion: Navigating the Maze – Sense-Making in Cross-Border Judicial Cooperation amidst Technological, Legal, and Organizational Diversity Maija Andrijauska, European Judicial Network in Criminal Matters Fabrizia Bemer, Prosecutor's Office of Florence, Italy |
| 10.45 – 11.15 | Coffee Break |
| 11.15 – 12.45 | Videoconferencing as a Support Tool Videoconferencing for judicial purposes has been used for decades now. However, it was the pandemic which gave it a serious boost. Continuing judicial business at judicial authorities would not have been possible without the option to hold hearings and other meetings with remote communication technologies. Although judicial business is back to normal again many technical but also legal achievements in videoconferencing are retained and continue to support the judicial work. This session will show a few examples of how videoconferencing has advanced in recent years in some Member States. The panellists will further discuss obstacles still impacting videoconferencing especially in a cross-border environment and maybe identify best practices of how to overcome them. Moderated by Bernhard Rieder, Austrian Ministry of Justice Panel Discussion: Experiences on Videoconferencing in Judicial Matters and How to Enable Cross-border Activities Katarzyna Klimas, Wrocław Court of Appeal, Poland Maija Andrijauska, European Judicial Network in Criminal Matters Sebastian Leitner, SimpliVi Project Andrés Aranda, Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament, Spain |
| 12.45 – 13.45 | Lunch Break |
| 13.45 – 15.15 | Training Strategy: Way Forward and Transferability of Outcomes Training has a crucial role in generating knowledge and awareness needed to produce the change that the digital justice is requiring to be efficient. Training is carried out in the different Member States and also at European level. Building upon the TREIO Project outcomes and experience the feeling is that training as it is in this moment has not produced all its potentials and there is room for further actions and strategies to reinforce the effectiveness of training and the awareness of its importance when dealing with digital change. This session aims to bring together actors that play an important role in implementing training strategies and discuss with them the way forward for training in the digital justice domain. Moderated by Dr Maria Angela Biasiotti, Institute of Legal Informatics and Judicial Systems at the National Research Council, Italy Speakers: Digitalization of Justice and the Role of Training Teresa Magno, Judge Assistant to the National Member for Italy, Italian Desk at Eurojust Panel Discussion: Recent Experiences and the Way Forward Wojciech Postulski, Unit A1. Digital Transition & Judicial Training to DG Justice and Consumers, European Commission Aki Hietanen & Iivari Huhva, Ministry of Justice, Finland Marieta Nedelcheva, Judge and National Contact Person of National Network for International Cooperation in Criminal Matters, Bulgaria Yves Vandermeer, ECTEG - European Cybercrime Training and Education Group |
| 15.15 – 15.30 | Closing Remarks Maria Angela Biasiotti, Institute of Legal Informatics and Judicial Systems at the National Research Council, Italy |
| 15.30 – 16.00 | Networking over Coffee |
Recordings
Photos
