EU–Lebanon Agreement on cooperation between Eurojust and the authorities of Lebanon competent for judicial cooperation in criminal matters

The European Parliament adopted by 581 votes to 12, with 45 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision concerning the conclusion of an agreement between the European Union and the Lebanese Republic on cooperation between the European Union Agency for Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (Eurojust) and the competent authorities of the Lebanese Republic in the field of judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.

The proposed Council Decision aims to approve the Agreement between the EU and the Lebanese Republic on the cooperation between the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) and the authorities of the Lebanese Republic competent for judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

The Commission recommended opening the negotiations of the Agreement back in 2020. The Council provided its authorisation on 1 March 2021, and the negotiations started later in December 2022. After two rounds of talks, the negotiation process was successfully finalised, reaching preliminary agreement on 11 October 2023. The Agreement was adopted by the Council on 10 October 2024.

The objective of this Agreement is to enhance judicial cooperation between Eurojust and the competent authorities of Lebanon by enabling the exchange of operational information between Eurojust and the Lebanese judicial authorities, in order to support and strengthen their cooperation in investigating and prosecuting serious cross-border crime offences.

The Agreement will significantly strengthen the coordinated response of the EU and Lebanon to transnational serious crime, in particular organised crime and terrorism, including in the context of joint investigations. For this reason, Lebanon will appoint a Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust who will work alongside the prosecutors from the EU Member States and other partner countries.

The Agreement also provides for strong safeguards on data protection and fundamental rights that comply with the European norms. The final text of the Agreement adduces adequate safeguards with respect to the protection of privacy and fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, providing additional safeguards for the protection of personal data of EU citizens transferred by Eurojust to Lebanese authorities.