Cooperation between judicial authorities

As people travel freely within the EU, it is important that they do not lose access to, or manage to escape from, justice. Cooperation has intensified between national judicial systems to ensure that legal decisions taken in one member country are recognized and implemented in another. These principles are especially important in civil proceedings concerning divorce, child custody etc.

 The EU has established the European Judicial Network in order to improve judicial cooperation between the Member States in combating serious crimes such as corruption, drug trafficking and terrorism.

The European arrest warrant has replaced lengthy extradition procedures so that suspected or convicted criminals who have fled abroad can be swiftly returned to the country where they were, or will be, tried.