One step closer to EU: Yerevan states benefits of the agreement with  Eurojust

ArmInfo.On September 5, the Standing Committee of the RA National Assembly gave a positive opinion on the draft ratification of the agreement on cooperation with the EU agency for criminal justice.  

As Deputy Minister of 
Justice Karen Karapetyan stated, presenting the draft ratification of the agreement "On cooperation between the competent authorities in the field of legal cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union in the field of criminal proceedings of the Republic of Armenia and the European Union Agency for Cooperation in the Field of Criminal Justice (Eurojust)", signed by Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in April 2024 in Brussels.  The purpose of the agreement is to foster international cooperation between Eurojust and the competent authorities of the Republic of Armenia in combating organized crime, terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking and other serious crimes. The document also outlines the establishment of unified standards and regulations in relevant areas, including the justice sector.

"Within the framework of the document, Armenia undertakes to protect the personal data transferred to it in accordance with the established standards," - Karapetyan noted. Ratification of the agreement will simplify and streamline the work of Armenian diplomatic missions abroad in providing legal assistance to citizens of the Republic of Armenia, added Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic Yeghiazar Avagyan.  The agreement states that the Republic of Armenia will appoint a prosecutor for cooperation issues to facilitate communication and cooperation between Eurojust and the competent authorities of the Republic of Armenia. Eurojust, on the other hand, may appoint a contact representative, specifically, the Minister for Cooperation. As stated in the explanatory note to the document, Eurojust has broad jurisdiction in combating transnational crime. Therefore the agreement will enable effective cooperation with the competent authorities of EU member states in criminal proceedings. Having the RA Prosecutor's Office represented in Eurojust expedite the exchange of information and enhance the quality of mutual support.

According to the Deputy Minister, the agreement has successfully passed all the necessary domestic procedures, and it does not contradict the RA Constitution.  Member of the National Assembly from the ruling Civil Contract faction Arsen Torosyan, in turn, noted that by ratifying the Agreement, Armenia will be one step closer to the EU. Opposition MP Armen Gevorgyan pointed out that the document does not specify what is meant by the exchange of "secret or sensitive" information.