5.8. EUAA Presidency of the JHA Agencies Network 2023
In carrying out its mandate, the EUAA works in regular cooperation with the other eight Agencies operating in the area of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) and addressing security, justice, fundamental rights and gender equality. In 2023, the EUAA held the rotating presidency of the JHA Agencies Network (JHAAN), which was established in 2010 to increase inter-agency cooperation and explore synergies in areas of common interest.
The JHA Agencies Network
• EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL)
• European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
• European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
• EUAA
• European Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA)
• European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust)
• European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol)
• European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA); and
• Frontex.
Taking into account the work of the network, the mandates of JHA agencies and the overall political context, the EUAA Presidency identified five main priorities for the network in 2023:
- Digitalisation, covering issues related to the use of AI, biometrics and interoperability;
- Implementation of the EU Green Deal in JHA Agencies;
- Information provision in mixed migration situations;
- Cybersecurity; and
- Internal and external communication to increase awareness and promote the network’s activities and functioning.
Highlights from the EUAA Presidency in 2023 include:
A conference on digital innovation was organised to take stock of technological developments and related needs in the context of asylum and migration. The conference focused on challenges and opportunities in interconnecting systems at national and international levels and showcased inspiring cross-border cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs.
A survey of JHA agencies’ environmental and greening activities was carried out to determine the current state of play, identify areas of interest for future activities, and take stock of the agencies’ efforts, best practices and lessons learned. The results of the survey were published in July 2023.
Two cybersecurity exercises were conducted to enhance security and the resilience of JHA agencies against potential cyber threats.
A survey was developed to collect information on JHA agencies’ activities in information provision. Two seminars were organised focusing on how to provide information in mixed migration contexts and what information should be provided in these situations.
The first-ever Staff Exchange Programme took place under the EUAA Presidency, which encouraged short-term mobility across agencies to foster expertise-sharing.
A joint publication on JHA agencies’ contributions to the EU’s solidarity with Ukraine was published. It provides an overview of the actions taken by the Agencies to support the EU, Member States and EU partners, such as third countries and international organisations, in view of Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine.
An annual exchange of JHA agencies on the charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU was organised to discuss promoting these rights, both internally and externally. This was the fourth exchange since the Heads of the JHA agencies signed a joint statement on the implementation of the Charter in November 2019. It was the first time, however, that the exchange was held as a side event of the pilot process ‘CharterXChange’, a unique forum jointly run by FRA and the European Commission, which provides a platform for legal practitioners and other stakeholders to explore current and potential applications of the Charter and ways to drive positive change to enhance people’s rights.
For more detailed overview of activities under the 2023 EUAA Presidency of the JHA Agencies Network, see the JHAAN Newsletter.