The Working Party on Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (COPEN) is scheduled to meet on 8 July 2026 at 10:00 in Brussels to discuss a directive replacing the European Investigation Order and several international agreements, according to a notice of meeting and provisional agenda published by the Council of the European Union.
The meeting, to be held at the Justus Lipsius building in a 1+2+1 format, will focus on a proposal for a directive that would replace Directive 2014/41/EU on the European Investigation Order. The European Commission is set to present the proposal (document 11274/26 + ADD 1). This item represents a significant legislative update aimed at streamlining cross-border evidence gathering in criminal proceedings.
Other agenda items include continued examination of Council decisions on the signature and conclusion of an EU-Algeria agreement on Eurojust cooperation (documents 11281/26, 11284/26). The working party will also receive an update from Eurojust on strengthening judicial cooperation with third countries (document WK 8894/26).
delegates will exchange views on a possible UNTOC protocol on crimes affecting the environment, based on Brazil's draft resolution (document 9985/26), and on a possible UN Convention protocol on cybercrime (document WK 8908/26). The Presidency will present an updated overview of international negotiations in criminal law (document WK 8898/26).
Delegates must register via the Delegates Portal, where meeting documents are available. The meeting advances the EU's legislative and international cooperation agenda in criminal justice, with key items on the European Investigation Order and new agreements with Algeria and under the UN framework.