The CyberSPEX project, a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Council of Europe, organised its first Project Steering Committee meeting, in Strasbourg, France, on 10 December 2024, followed by an exchange of views with experts from the most advanced countries in the process of implementation of the Second Additional Protocol on 13 December.

Representatives from the EU member states, the European Commission, Council of Europe, as well as representatives of the relevant EU agencies such as EUROPOL, EUROJUST, CEPOL and the European Judicial Cybercrime Network participated in the Steering Committee Meeting.

The activity provided a platform for EU member states to share updates and progress made by each country in aligning the domestic legislation with the provisions of the Second Protocol and the EU e-evidence package. Country delegates expressed a strong interest in the tools developed under the CyberSPEX project, namely the Legal Assessment Template and the Guide for the Implementation of the Second Protocol (links to be available next year on the dedicated CyberSPEX website).

Moreover, the Steering Committee Meeting was an excellent opportunity to endorse the future workplan of the project, among which are included the Training Workshop for Practitioners, organised in collaboration with the European Judicial Cybercrime Network, updating of the HELP training materials, launching the CyberSPEX webspace on CYBOX, regional meetings to discuss approaches to legal solutions for domestic challenges in the implementation of the Second Protocol and in interaction with the EU e-evidence package. The delegates expressed strong support and readiness for engaging in the future project activities.

The meeting for exchanging views with experts reunited a small group of EU member states that made substantial progress in the implementation process. This was an opportunity to discuss in depth the various provisions of the Protocol with countries at a similar stage of the process or on the way to it.

These activities are part of a broader effort undertaken by the CyberSPEX project to support EU member states in signing, ratifying, and implementing the Second Additional Protocol.

 Cybercrime Convention (Budapest Convention)

 Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence

 Explanatory Report to the Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime

 Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC)

 CyberSPEX Project