Case C‑325/24 [Bissilli] (i)
Criminal proceedings against HG
(Request for a preliminary ruling,
from the Tribunale ordinario di Firenze)
Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 18 December 2025
( Reference for a preliminary ruling – Area of freedom, security and justice – Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Directive 2014/41/EU – European Investigation Order in criminal matters – Article 3 – Material scope – Concept of ‘investigative measure’ – Purpose – Obtaining evidence – Article 10 – Recourse to a different type of investigative measure – Article 11 – Grounds for non-recognition or non-execution – Fundamental rights – Article 22 – Temporary transfer to the issuing State of the person held in custody for the purpose of carrying out an investigative measure – Article 24 – Hearing of the accused person by videoconference – Article 24(2)(b) – Fundamental principles of the law of the executing Member State )
1.        Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – European Investigation Order in criminal matters – Directive 2014/41 – Questions referred for a preliminary ruling – Admissibility – Questions referred by the issuing judicial authority concerning the conditions for execution of a European Investigation Order – Admissible questions
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/41)
(see paragraphs 38-40)
2.        Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – European Investigation Order in criminal matters – Directive 2014/41 – Substantive scope – Investigative measure – Concept – Request for the temporary transfer of a person held in custody to the issuing Member State for the purpose of hearing that person or the organisation of the hearing of that person by videoconference as an accused person – Measures which take effect during the trial enabling both the gathering of evidence and the appearance of that person at the trial – Included – Conditions
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/41, recitals 5 to 8, 25 and 34 and Arts 1(1), first subpara., 3, 22 and 24)
(see paragraphs 44-61, operative part 1)
3.        Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – European Investigation Order in criminal matters – Directive 2014/41 – Conditions for issuing and transmitting a European Investigation Order – Recognition and execution – European Investigation Order for the purpose of the organisation of the hearing by videoconference of the accused person during the criminal trial – Refusal to execute on the sole ground that such a measure is unavailable in a similar domestic case – Not permissible
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/41, Arts 1(2), 10, 11, 22 to 29 and Annex A)
(see paragraphs 63-81, operative part 2)
4.        Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – European Investigation Order in criminal matters – Directive 2014/41 – Principle of mutual recognition – Scope – Grounds for non-recognition and non-execution – Restrictive interpretation
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/41, Art. 1(2))
(see paragraphs 79, 96)
5.        Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – European Investigation Order in criminal matters – Directive 2014/41 – Conditions for issuing and transmitting a European Investigation Order – Recognition and execution – European Investigation Order for the purpose of the organisation of the hearing by videoconference of the accused person during the criminal trial – Non-application of one of the grounds for non-recognition or non-execution  – Option to refuse to execute on the basis of another ground provided for by the directive
(Art. 6 TEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/41, Arts 9(1), 11 and 24(2))
(see paragraphs 83-92, operative part 3)
6.        Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – European Investigation Order in criminal matters – Directive 2014/41 – Conditions for issuing and transmitting a European Investigation Order – Recognition and execution – European Investigation Order concerning the organisation of a hearing by videoconference of the accused person during the criminal trial – Refusal to execute solely on the basis of general guidelines issued by the executing Member State – No individual examination of all the relevant circumstances of the case – Not permissible
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/41, Art. 24(2)(b))
(see paragraphs 94-99, operative part 4)
See the text of the decision.
i      The name of the present case is a fictitious name. It does not correspond to the real name of any party to the proceedings.