Insight: enhance judiciary cooperation with the EuroMed Justice Program

We have interviewed our Junior Project Manager Miriam Poehner on the development and positive impact of the EuroMed Justice programme.

EuroMed Justice is a programme dedicated to capacity building by developing a tool to improve cross-regional judicial cooperation for criminal issues. The program is under the responsibility of EuroJust and the Consortium of SAFE and the European Public Law Organisation (EPLO) are in charge for the implementation of the training component.

Miriam is responsible for the organization and management of trainings. She holds a BA in International Relations and Management; she’s currently enrolled in a Masters at the University of Padua and has been part of the SAFE Team since 2021.

Q1: Miriam, you have been responsible for the coordination of the training sessions under the EuroMed Justice program since its inception. Can you go into detail about its training component?

A: The SAFE and EPLO Consortium will organise 21 training sessions dedicated to criminal justice practitioners of European Member States (EU MS) and South Partner Countries (SPCS) such as Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon Libya, Tunisia, Palestine and Morocco. With these training sessions we contribute to improving the capacities of criminal justice practitioners from EU MS and SPCs by providing opportunities for exchange and discussion on their different legal systems, bringing them closer to the EuroMed Justice tools developed under previous phases of the programme and offering technical input on the topics.

Q2: It seems that this Project will bring a unique, positive effect on judiciary cooperation. Can you talk more about its impact?

A: The training component of the EMJ programme contributes to enhance the judiciary cooperation specifically by facilitating the networking among criminal justice practitioners not just between EU MS and SPCs but also within each of these geographical regions. This process is promoted by the practical component of the training sessions where the participants work together and exchange directly on their individual legal systems and experience in cross-regional cooperation. Also, the EMJ tools and the important role of EuroJust in facilitating cooperation among these regions is of importance to the programme by providing a direct point of contact and source of information for cooperation.

Q3: What’s the unique value that SAFE brings into this project?

A: Within the consortium, SAFE is taking on the role of the coordinator. SAFE builds on a vast experience of managing projects as well as organising and implementing trainings within its activities, representing a strong asset of SAFE. For example, in project BAMIN on Asset Recovery and Asset Management in the Balkan region, SAFE is in charge of the management of the BAMIN Secretariat and coordinating and implementing the training activities for judicial authorities, asset management offices and law enforcement. In addition, SAFE is implementing training activities in the MENA region, for example in Lebanon as part of its ongoing projects there.

Q4: Your perspective as Project Manager is certainly very valuable. What was your experience as manager and coordinator?

A: At this point in the programme, we have already implemented eight training sessions, six of which were dedicated specifically to European Member States and two to South Partner Countries. This was a big success! Also due to the pandemic, they were organized online which can provide a challenge in creating interactive and participative training sessions. According to the feedback we had received, nonetheless, the training sessions were implemented successfully, with positive feedback from participants and trainers stating that our sessions were received with great interest and satisfaction. Now, from May onwards we are going into our first face-to-face training session, and it will be exciting to have participants and trainers on site, allowing them to exchange and network in person which will provide an even greater benefit and positive outcome to the training sessions.

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Thank you, Miriam, for your insight and for your precious contribution on the Project.

Learn more on EuroMed Justice: https://euromedjustice.eu/

Learn more on SAFE Projects: https://www.safe-europe.eu/