| EU Agencies present first full overview of actions to detect and protect victims of human trafficking | | https://www.eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/News/Pages/EU-Agencies-present-first-full-overview-of-actions-to-detect-and-protect-victims-of-human-trafficking.aspx | EU Agencies present first full overview of actions to detect and protect victims of human trafficking | 18/10/2021 08:00:00 | <p style="text-align:justify;">
<strong>The European Union agencies active in the field of justice and home affairs have presented the first full overview of actions to help victims of trafficking in human beings. The main operational activities are listed in a </strong>
<a target="_blank" href="https://eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/PressRelease/Documents/JHAAN%20Report%20on%20Victims%20of%20Human%20Trafficking.pdf">
<strong>joint report</strong></a><strong> of the Justice and Home Affairs Agencies Network (JHAAN) published today at the occasion of EU Anti-Trafficking Day under the leadership of </strong>
<a target="_blank" href="https://eurojust.europa.eu/">
<strong>Eurojust</strong></a><strong>. The report is a key building block of the</strong><em><strong> </strong></em>
<a target="_blank" href="https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/eu-policy/eu-strategy-combatting-trafficking-human-beings-2021-2025_en#:~:text=On%2014%20April%202021%2c%20the%2cto%20bringing%20traffickers%20to%20justice.">
<strong>EU Strategy on combatting Trafficking in Human Beings</strong></a><strong> </strong>
<strong>and serves as a key reference document for national authorities engaged in tackling human trafficking.</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;">"Human trafficking is a concept that should not exist in the 21<sup>st</sup> century. Our common response for such appalling crimes must always be zero tolerance. I am confident that, together, the nine JHA Agencies can redouble their efforts in supporting Member States in identifying and, most importantly, protecting victims and potential victims of trafficking", said Krum Garkov, Executive Director of eu-LISA.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">During the Eurojust Presidency of the JHAAN, for the first time, a compendium was made of all different actions taken by
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cepol.europa.eu/">CEPOL</a>,
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.easo.europa.eu/">EASO</a>,
<a target="_blank" href="https://eige.europa.eu/">EIGE</a>,
<a target="_blank" href="/">eu-LISA</a>,
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/">Eurojust</a>,
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.europol.europa.eu/">Europol</a>,
<a target="_blank" href="https://fra.europa.eu/en">FRA</a> and
<a target="_blank" href="https://frontex.europa.eu/">Frontex</a>, to reach out to victims of human trafficking at all stages of prevention, investigations, operations and legal proceedings. The initiative is a concrete result following the
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/joint-statement-commitment-working-together-address-trafficking-human-beings">Joint Statement</a> of commitment to work together against trafficking in human beings<em>, </em>signed in 2018.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">
<img src="https://eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/PressRelease/PublishingImages/JHAAN_THB_2.jpg" alt="" style="float:left;max-height:375px;margin:5px 15px 10px 0px;" />The <a target="_blank" href="https://eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/PressRelease/Documents/JHAAN%20Report%20on%20Victims%20of%20Human%20Trafficking.pdf">JHAAN report</a> of today aims to make Member States more aware of the Agencies' potential in helping the early identification and protection of victims. Furthermore, it encourages them to cooperate closely with the Agencies involved in this area and to build on their expertise. The report responds to one of the key actions of the EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings 2021-2025.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The report is the result of a questionnaire sent to all agencies and the outcome of a meeting of JHAAN experts, hosted by Eurojust in June this year. It builds on two important strands in the process of investigating criminal networks involved in human trafficking, namely the early identification of victims and measures and actions for their protection. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">To do its part in identifying and protecting victims of human trafficking, eu-LISA has continued its work on the design and development of existing, but also new existing large-scale IT systems, such as the Entry/Exit System (<a target="_blank" href="/Activities/Large-Scale-It-Systems/EES">EES</a>), the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (<a target="_blank" href="/News-And-Events">ETIAS</a>), and the European Criminal Records System - Third Country Nationals (<a target="_blank" href="/Activities/Large-Scale-It-Systems/Ecris-Tcn">ECRIS-TCN</a>), as well as the interoperability architecture, to ensure that national authorities responsible for border management and security and concerned EU Agencies will have access to the necessary information when and where needed. New functionalities brought by the SIS II Recast will be paramount in the fast, cross-border identification of children and vulnerable people who need to be prevented from travelling, if that travel would put them at risk of becoming victims of trafficking.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">As part of its expanding role in the area of justice, eu-LISA also contributes to the Digital criminal justice initiative, aiming to enhance the necessary technical platforms to improve the exchange of information, and victims' access to justice.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Established in 2010, the Justice and Home Affairs agencies' Network comprises of nine institutions:
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cepol.europa.eu/">CEPOL</a>,
<a target="_blank" href="https://easo.europa.eu/">EASO</a>,
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/eurogender">EIGE</a>,
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/emcdda">EMCDDA</a>, eu-LISA,
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/eurojust">Eurojust</a>,
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/europol">Europol</a>,
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/EURightsAgency">FRA</a> and
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Frontex">Frontex</a>. Together, they contribute to the implementation of EU's objectives in the fields of migration, asylum and external border management, the fight against serious organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism, gender equality and respect for fundamental rights.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">
<strong> </strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;">
<strong>Further Reading</strong></p><ul><li>
<a target="_blank" href="https://eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/PressRelease/Documents/JHAAN%20Report%20on%20Victims%20of%20Human%20Trafficking.pdf">Joint report</a> of the JHA agencies' network on the identification and protection of victims of human trafficking</li><ul><li>
<a target="_blank" href="https://eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/PressRelease/PublishingImages/JHAAN_THB_1.jpg">Infographic</a><br><img src="https://eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/PressRelease/PublishingImages/JHAAN_THB_1.jpg" alt="" style="max-width:85%;" /></li></ul></ul><ul><li>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/states-and-partners/eu-partners/jha-agencies-network">JHAAN Coordination and joint actions</a><br></li></ul><p>
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</p><br> | | |
| eu-LISA and Eurojust Consolidate Their Cooperation in the Justice Domain | | https://www.eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/PressRelease/Pages/eu-LISA-and-Eurojust-Consolidate-Their-Cooperation-in-the-Justice-Domain.aspx | eu-LISA and Eurojust Consolidate Their Cooperation in the Justice Domain | 11/10/2021 11:00:00 | <p style="text-align:justify;"></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Establishing access for </strong><a href="https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/"><strong>Eurojust</strong></a><strong> to </strong><a href="/"><strong>eu-LISA</strong></a><strong>'s new large-scale IT system ECRIS-TCN, as well as the </strong><a href="/Activities/Interoperability"><strong>Interoperability</strong></a><strong> architecture that will strengthen the Justice and Home Affairs domain, is the foundation of the three-year </strong><a href="/PartnersStakeholders/Documents/CP_Eurojust-eu-LISA.pdf"><strong>Cooperation Plan</strong></a><strong> signed today by eu-LISA Executive Director Krum Garkov and Eurojust President Ladislav Hamran. It also covers future cooperation in the context of the Digital Criminal Justice initiative and e-CODEX, a cross-border judicial tool that will be managed by eu-LISA </strong><a href="/Newsroom/News/Pages/eu-LISA-Extends-its-Portfolio-with-a-New-Large-Scale-IT-System.aspx"><strong>starting 2023</strong></a><strong>. The plan outlines detailed practical modalities of mutual support between the two Agencies.</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Eurojust President Mr. Ladislav Hamran said: <em>"Digitalisation requires cooperation, and Eurojust warmly welcomes the opportunity to join forces with eu-LISA on the important topics addressed in this Cooperation Plan. I am certain that it will prove to be a decisive next step in our shared efforts to bring cross-border judicial cooperation up to the standards of the 21st century."</em></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Mr. Krum Garkov, Executive Director of eu-LISA, stated: <em>"Quick and efficient exchange of judicial information is paramount for the future development of the Schengen Area and of the European Union. The Cooperation Plan we sign today – which builds upon the foundation of our long-standing collaboration agreement set up in 2017 – will facilitate both Agencies' efforts in accelerating the digital transformation we are all a part of, and in increasing our contribution to the Member States, with the ultimate goal of providing tangible benefits for EU citizens. We look forward to consolidating our partnership with Eurojust."</em></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="/Activities/Large-Scale-It-Systems/Ecris-Tcn">ECRIS-TCN</a> (European Criminal Records Information System – Third Country Nationals) will be a new, centralised, hit/ no-hit large-scale IT system to supplement the existing EU criminal records database (ECRIS) on non-EU nationals convicted in the European Union. As outlined in the Cooperation Plan, Eurojust will be able to query ECRIS-TCN for identifying the Member States holding criminal records information on a third-country national. Efficient exchange of criminal records information is instrumental in combating cross-border crime. ECRIS-TCN will contribute to implementing the principle of mutual recognition of sentences and judicial decisions in a common area of justice and security where people move freely, such as the Schengen Area.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Digital Criminal Justice initiative consists of a number of concrete measures aimed at further modernising cross-border judicial cooperation in criminal matters. It is one of Eurojust's key priorities and will help to minimise errors caused by the manual handling of data and overcome limitations in the sharing of evidence. As a result, links between existing cases will be identified faster and more efficiently, thereby strengthening the EU's efforts in the fight against organised crime and terrorism. Considering eu-LISA's expertise in the field of large-scale IT systems, cooperation between both agencies on Digital Criminal Justice could be hugely beneficial.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="https://www.e-codex.eu/">e-CODEX</a> aims to improve the efficiency of cross-border communication between European judicial authorities and facilitate access to justice for citizens and businesses. As part of eu-LISA's growing role in the justice domain, the Agency is set to take over operational management of the system as of 1 July 2023.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Cooperation Plan implements in practice the modalities of cooperation set forth in the Eurojust and eu-LISA <a href="/PartnersStakeholders/Documents/MoU_Eurojust_eu-LISA.pdf">Memorandum of Understanding</a> signed in 2017. While the Memorandum of Understanding remains the overarching framework for the two Agencies' collaboration, the Cooperation Plan aims to outline specific actions in more detail, with a view to effectively and efficiently implementation specific actions, enabling eu-LISA and Eurojust to further enhance synergies in the Justice and Home Affairs area.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Eurojust and eu-LISA have also agreed to share expertise and knowledge on ICT-related matters, as well on research priorities and findings. Furthermore, the Agencies may consult each other and exchange know-how on the use of artificial intelligence.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Cooperation Plan also defines principles when it comes to the consultation on strategic and planning documents, the planning and implementing of technical trainings related to SIS, ECRIS-TCN and e-CODEX, and the exchange of lessons learnt in the area of personal data protection, including security by design, data protection by design and by default.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;"> <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><img src="/Newsroom/PressRelease/PublishingImages/20211011.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><br></strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong><strong style="text-align:justify;">Background</strong></strong><strong style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA)</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="/Activities/Interoperability">eu-LISA</a> was established in 2011 in order to provide a long-term solution for IT-driven internal security and to support the implementation of asylum, migration and border management policies in Europe. Since then, eu-LISA has run Eurodac, SIS and VIS and has been providing Member State authorities with the expert training needed to help them with the constant exchange of information across Europe. Thanks to the trust eu-LISA has fostered over the years, we are now developing EES, ETIAS and ECRIS-TCN and ensuring interoperability between all six IT-systems, in order to take EU internal security and border management to the next level. </p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust)</strong></p><p style="text-align:justify;">As the EU's hub for judicial cooperation, <a href="https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/">Eurojust</a> delivers hands-on support to national authorities by promoting the exchange of information, developing prosecutorial strategies, facilitating the use of judicial cooperation tools, and implementing joint actions. Together with the Member States and an extensive network of international partners, Eurojust is making Europe a safer place for all of its citizens.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Further Reading</strong></p><ul><li>eu-LISA - Eurojust <a href="/PartnersStakeholders/Documents/CP_Eurojust-eu-LISA.pdf">Cooperation Plan 2021-2023</a></li><li>eu-LISA – Eurojust <a href="/PartnersStakeholders/Documents/MoU_Eurojust_eu-LISA.pdf">Memorandum of Understanding</a></li><li><a href="https://discover.eulisa.europa.eu/">Discover eu-LISA</a></li><li><a href="https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/about-us/eurojust-virtual-tour">Eurojust Virtual Tour</a></li><li><a href="/Newsroom/PressRelease/Documents/Eurojust-eu-LISA-Cooperation-Plan.pdf">Press Release</a> in PDF format<br></li></ul><p style="text-align:justify;"><br></p> | | |
| eu-LISA Hosts the Portuguese Ambassador to Estonia | | https://www.eulisa.europa.eu/Newsroom/News/Pages/eu-LISA-Hosts-the-Portuguese-Ambassador-to-Estonia.aspx | eu-LISA Hosts the Portuguese Ambassador to Estonia | 29/09/2021 10:30:00 | <p style="text-align:justify;">On 29 September 2021, eu-LISA had the pleasure of welcoming H.E. Francisco Vaz Patto, Portuguese Ambassador to Estonia at its headquarters in Tallinn.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Following a brief overview of the Agency's activities, the Ambassador, eu-LISA's Executive Director Krum Garkov and Deputy Executive Director Luca Tagliaretti exchanged views on the successful cooperation between the Agency and the
<a href="https://www.2021portugal.eu/en/">Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU</a>, as well as eu-LISA's priorities in supporting Member States in the area of justice and home affairs.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">In the first semester of 2021, Portugal presided over the Council of the European Union, the fourth time since the debut of the rotating presidencies system in 1992.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Throughout the years, eu-LISA has had strong ties with all the Member States partaking in the rotating EU Presidency system and has made it a tradition to co-organise its flagship events in collaboration with the presiding country. Our latest
<a href="https://www.eulisaroundtable.eu/industry-roundtable-june-2021/">Industry Roundtable</a>, which brought together over 330 participants from 40 countries, benefited from the support of the Portuguese Presidency, and attendees had the opportunity of seeing first-hand a case study in implementing contactless travel at Lisbon airport.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Close cooperation and building strong connections with Member States is of utmost importance to eu-LISA and key in ensuring a timely and successfully delivery of Europe's new Justice and Home Affairs IT architecture.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Between 2015 and 2020, Mr. Vaz Patto was Portugal's Ambassador to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. At the end of 2020, he was assigned to Portugal Embassy's in Helsinki, which also serves as the liaison office for diplomatic matters with Estonia.<br></p><p>
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