The Working Party on Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (COPEN) of the Council of the European Union is scheduled to meet on 22 July 2026 to exchange views on a Presidency note concerning the recast proposal for a Directive on the European Investigation Order and the European Remote Participation Order. The meeting, set to begin at 10:00 in the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels, will focus on document 11794/26, which outlines the Presidency's reflections on the proposed recast.
The agenda includes approval of the agenda, followed by the exchange of views on the recast Directive, and any other business. Delegations are required to register attendance via the delegates portal, and Council documents will be available on the Delegates Portal, with room attendants providing copies on request. The meeting format is 2+2, indicating two representatives per member state plus two accompanying experts.
The recast Directive aims to update the European Investigation Order (EIO), which facilitates cross-border evidence gathering in criminal proceedings, and introduces a European Remote Participation Order to allow suspects or defendants to participate in hearings via videoconference from another member state. The Presidency note is expected to address key issues such as procedural safeguards, deadlines for execution, and the scope of the orders.
This meeting is part of the ongoing legislative process within the Council, where member states' experts examine technical and legal aspects before the proposal proceeds to higher-level discussions. The exchange of views will help shape the Council's position ahead of negotiations with the European Parliament.
Stakeholders impacted include national judicial authorities, which will implement the new rules; legal practitioners, who must adapt to streamlined procedures; and suspects or defendants, who may benefit from enhanced participation rights. The recast aims to balance efficiency in cross-border investigations with fundamental rights protections, potentially reducing delays and costs for member states while ensuring fair trial guarantees.
Following the COPEN meeting, the proposal will likely be discussed in the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) before adoption by the Council. The European Parliament is also expected to examine the recast, with trilogue negotiations to follow.