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.