Judicial cooperation: creation of a provisional Unit. Initiative Portugal, France, Sweden and Belgium

This is an explanatory note on the initiative of Portugal, France, Sweden and Belgium setting up a Provisional Judicial Cooperation Unit. This Unit will contribute, in the short term, to improved coordination between national prosecuting authorities, in particular by supporting criminal investigations in organised crime cases, and by helping to simplify the execution of letters rogatory. Furthermore, on the basis of experience gained in this area, the members of the Provisional Judicial Cooperation Unit will be able to assist the Council and the Member States in the negotiations on setting up the Eurojust Unit by providing them with information acquired through the experience of practitioners. �