The Working Party on Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (COPEN) is scheduled to meet on 8 July 2026 at 10:00 in Brussels to advance several key EU criminal justice files, according to a notice of meeting and provisional agenda published by the Council. The agenda includes a proposal to replace the European Investigation Order directive, Eurojust cooperation agreements with 13 non-EU states, and discussions on new UN protocols on environmental and cybercrime.
At the meeting, the European Commission will present a proposal for a directive replacing Directive 2014/41/EU on the European Investigation Order (document 11274/26 + ADD 1), a key instrument for cross-border evidence gathering in criminal proceedings. The Working Party will also continue examining Eurojust cooperation agreements with Algeria (documents 11281/26, 11284/26) and receive a presentation on a new agreement with Colombia (document 11538/26). Negotiations also cover Argentina, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey. Eurojust will provide an update on strengthening judicial cooperation with third countries (document WK 8894/26).
Other agenda items include an exchange of views on a possible additional protocol to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) on environmental crimes, following a Commission information (document 9985/26), and a discussion on a possible protocol to the UN Convention against cybercrime (document WK 8908/26). The Working Party will also follow up on the entry into application of Article 34(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1543 on e-evidence, which was discussed on 29 June 2026. Finally, the Presidency will present an updated overview of international negotiations in criminal law (document WK 8898/26).
The meeting marks a step forward in EU efforts to modernise cross-border judicial cooperation, with the revised European Investigation Order expected to streamline evidence collection across member states. The Eurojust agreements aim to enhance cooperation with key third countries in fighting serious crime. Discussions on UN protocols reflect the EU's push to address emerging crime areas such as environmental offences and cybercrime at the international level.