The second meeting of the Steering Committee of the European Union/Council of Europe Joint Project “Improving International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters in Türkiye” took place in Ankara on 29 March 2022 in a hybrid format.

The members of the project’s Steering Committee represented by the Ministry of Justice, the Council of Europe and Central Finance and Contracts Unit were joined at the meeting by the representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye and the General Directorate of Sectors and Public Investments under the Strategy and Budget of the Presidency, as observers.

The meeting began with opening remarks delivered by Ms Pınar Başpınar, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara, Dr Ahmet Ulutaş, Acting Director General of Foreign Relations and European Union Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, and Mr Mustafa Ferati, Head of Economic Crime and Cooperation Division of the Council of Europe.

The Steering Committee took stock of the progress achieved and the plans for the next semi-annual period. The exit strategy to ensure the sustainability of the results after the completion of the project was presented to the Steering Committee members, along with considerations for adequately addressing gender equality during the project implementation.

The project ‘Improving International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters’ is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.