The Closing Conference of the European Union (EU) and Council of Europe Joint Project “International Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters in Türkiye" (ICCM TR)” took place in Ankara, marking the completion of a successful initiative. The event brought together 200 representatives of the project partners from the Ministry of Justice, judges, prosecutors, and legal professionals in Türkiye. 

In her opening remarks, Ms Hanne JUNCHER, Director of the Directorate of Security, Integrity, and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe, highlighted the significant progress made since the project’s launch in December 2020. She emphasised the importance of international judicial co-operation in combating transnational crime and praised the project’s contributions to enhancing Türkiye’s legal, institutional, and operational capacity in this area.

Key achievements include the establishment of new Bureaux for International Judicial Co-operation in seven provinces, the creation of a Central Monitoring System within Turkey’s National Judiciary Network (UYAP) to streamline Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) and Extradition requests, and the training of over 900 judges, prosecutors, and legal professionals on matters related to international judicial co-operation.

The project also facilitated exchange of experiences and knowledge with EU member states, fostering stronger collaboration and informal networks. Emphasising the importance of international partnerships in addressing cross-border crimes such as human trafficking, money laundering, and cybercrime, the conference underscored Türkiye’s commitment to maintaining and further developing these advancements. 

The project "Improving International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters in Türkiye" is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe”.

Türkiye is a state party to relevant Council of Europe standards on mutual assistance in criminal matters (1969), extradition (1960) and their additional protocols, transfer of sentenced persons, seizure and confiscation of proceeds of crime and other.