The Executive Director of the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), Montserrat MARIN LÓPEZ, and the Executive Director of the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), Nina GREGORI, are at the European Parliament today where they will present the highlights and priorities of the outgoing and incoming presidencies of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Agencies’ Network (JHAAN). The EUAA took over the Presidency of the network from CEPOL on 1 January 2023.

The JHA Agencies’ Network has an important role to play in Europe. It connects the EU Agencies protecting the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. Together, nine JHA agencies contribute to the implementation of the EU’s objectives in the fields of migration, asylum and external border management, the fight against organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism, gender equality and respect for fundamental rights. They also facilitate the functioning of relevant EU IT systems, contribute to EU activities against drugs and drug addiction, and facilitate law-enforcement training.

In 2022, the technical support provided to Member States and EU institutions in responding to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine was central of the network’s activities. Meetings took place throughout the year to monitor the situation and help ensure that Europe’s collective response met the changing needs. In this context, several JHA agencies also provided support to Moldova. Beyond the ongoing focus on assisting Member States to respond to the challenges resulting from the Russian aggression against Ukraine, digitalisation, cooperation with non-EU countries, training, and the implementation of the principles of the European Green Deal were the key priorities of the network last year under CEPOL’s chairmanship.

The Trio Presidency format, applied for the first time last year, ensures a smooth transition from one chair to the next. Therefore, 2023 will see continuity in the joint efforts of the JHA agencies. Among the priority topics defined by EUAA for this year, digitalisation remains a key component of the network’s work programme, along with the implementation of the EU Green Deal, cybersecurity and information provision in mixed migration situations, also as top priorities. The EUAA will chair the JHA agencies’ network until 31 December 2023, then handing over to eu-LISA in 2024.The network’s achievements in 2022 were presented to the Council’s Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal Security (COSI) on 22 February.