Strengthening International Judicial Cooperation in Counterterrorism: Key Takeaways from the High-Level Conference

The first high-level conference on "International Judicial Cooperation in Countering Terrorism: Challenges and Future Prospects for Action" took place from 9 to 11 February 2025, marking a significant milestone in technical cooperation between the League of Arab States and the European Union. The event gathered over 50 delegates from 19 Arab League countries, alongside representatives from the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Delegation of the European Union in Cairo played a prominent role in the discussions.

A Milestone in EU-Arab League Cooperation

Sponsored by the Arab League and organised under the CT JUST project’s initiative, "The CT JUST Stream on Operational Justice," the conference demonstrated a high level of institutional commitment. This was the first technical meeting of its kind to bring together key stakeholders with such a strong degree of collaboration. On the Arab side, the Arab Centre for Legal and Judicial Research, an advisory body to the Council of Ministers of Justice of the League, coordinated the technical and academic aspects in collaboration with CT JUST.

Key Discussions and Agreements

The conference provided a platform for participants to share experiences and challenges in international counterterrorism cooperation. A consensus emerged that judicial cooperation must respect traditional mechanisms while also embracing innovative, informal approaches to streamline collaboration. Key recommendations included:

• Strengthening direct communication between judicial and law enforcement authorities across regions.
• Enhancing coordination mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of information and accelerate investigative processes.
• Encouraging widespread participation in international cooperation platforms with proven effectiveness in supporting counterterrorism efforts.
• Leveraging existing mechanisms such as EUROJUST and Joint Investigation Teams to improve the efficiency of legal proceedings, including issuing letters rogatory, arrest warrants, and investigation requests.
• Reinforcing traditional tools such as central authorities and liaison judges to ensure continuity and reliability in judicial cooperation.

Next Steps: Strengthening Institutional Ties

Building on the conference discussions, a high-level delegation from the Arab League, supported by CT JUST, will meet with EUROJUST in The Hague on 17-18 February 2025. This first institutional meeting aims to establish operational ties between the two organisations, further strengthening judicial cooperation in counterterrorism.

The Role of CT JUST

CT JUST continues to support EU institutions in advancing operational strategies that deliver tangible benefits to judicial and law enforcement bodies in both Member States and partner countries. Through initiatives like "The CT JUST Stream on Operational Justice," the project remains committed to fostering international collaboration and enhancing judicial responses to global security challenges.

This high-level conference marks a significant step forward in international judicial cooperation, setting the stage for deeper engagement and more effective counterterrorism strategies in the future.