Eurojust (also spelled capitalised as EUROJUST) is a European Union body composed of national prosecutors, magistrates or police officers of equivalent competence from each of the European Union's member states. Its task is to enhance the effectiveness of the national authorities when they are dealing with the investigation and prosecution of cross-border and organised crime.

Creation

Eurojust was established as a result of a decision that the European Council of Tampere (15-16 October 1999) made a decision to establish a permanent judicial co-operation Unit called Eurojust in order to improve the fight against serious crime.

In 14 December 2000, the Council of the European Union formally established a provisional judicial co-operation Unit with the name of Pro-Eurojust to be Eurojust's forerunner. Its purpose was to be a sort of round table of prosecutors from all member states to enable concepts of Eurojust to be tried and tested. Pro-Eurojust started work on 1 March 2001.

Eurojust itself was established in 2002.

Links

• Official site (http://www.eurojust.eu.int/index.htm)