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11th Regional Conference - 2011

Date: Wednesday 16 February 2011

Location: The Hague, the Netherlands

The Hague, the Netherlands 16 - 19 February 2011, 11th Regional Conference:
“The Prosecutor in Europe - tackling crossborder issues”
Attendance: 50 participants from 17 countries.

Conference Presentations, Reports, feedback, conclusions and recommendations:

Thursday 17 February 2011

09:10   Opening Address, Mr. Han Moraal, Prosecutor General, Dutch Public Prosecution Service

09:30   Introduction, Mrs: Elizabeth Howe, General Counsel, IAP

Presentations:

  • Mr. Erik Planken: Vice-Chair Council of Europe Cyber-Crime Committee
  • Ms. Stephanie Bosly, recent EU developments (European Arrest Warrent (EAW) and other instruments; the European Investigation order). CV
  • Mr. Jorge Espina Ramos, Prosecutor at the Technical Secretariat of the General Prosecutor's Office, International Cooperation Section, Spain (The European Prosecutor)
  • Ms. Natasja M. Van Collenburg: Public Prosecutor in Amsterdam, International Centre for Legal Assistance (Practical aspects of dealing with EAW in The Netherlands)

Friday 18 February 2011

Presentations:

  • Prof.dr. Marlèn Dane, Head of European Union Division of the Ministry for Security and Justice "Unable to attend as indisposed"
  • Mr. Eric Bedos, Deputy Head Prosecutor, Lille, France. CV
  • Mrs. Angie Potter, UK Liaison Magistrate, France. CV
  • Mr. Steven Ryder, Europol, Legal Specialist

Other material:

Conference Theme:

Following our successful Annual Conference in The Hague in September 2010 - when we examined a number of cross border issues for Prosecutors - it seemed like a natural progression to pick up some of those themes as they related specifically to Europe. We also wanted to take a close look at some of the practical tools and instruments that are available to the operational prosecutor who might find himself dealing with a case that extends his sights beyond his own jurisdiction.

In this conference we will look at some of the products available or yet to become available from The European Union as well as other institutions such as The Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and also Eurojust, which are designed to assist the pan European criminal justice process to operate more effectively and efficiently. Examples will include the European Arrest Warrant - regarded by many as a resounding success - but is it? Does it work well in practice? does it ride roughshod over some arrestees’ human rights? What about the proposed European Investigation Order? how will that operate? Are the tried and tested mutual legal assistance arrangements in Europe still working well? Is there room for improvement?

The Council of Europe Convention on Cyber Crime is the only international instrument on E Crime and the training the IAP has developed, under the auspices of GPEN - reflect many of the convention’s components. Is this something that operational prosecutors should be more aware of? Should we know more about JITs (Joint Investigation Teams)? Should domestic prosecutors be engaging more with Eurojust? and what about Europol -where does that fit in with local police forces?

In addition to having speakers and discussion sessions, we plan to have a topical visit -perhaps to Eurojust or Europol or even the iconic Peace Palace.

Target Group:

As well as presenting an interesting and informative programme - of practical value to any prosecutor in Europe who finds themselves dealing with a case that has cross border implications - this event allows prosecutors from all over Western Europe and sometimes beyond to commune with each other and discover common interests as well as differences - thus improving understanding and promoting a greater sense of community between prosecutors wherever they are located.

For further information, please contact; The IAP Secretariat on sg@iap-association.org or access IAP website; www.iap-association.org.