EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Pursuant to Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1727 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 on the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), and replacing and repealing Council Decision 2002/187/JHA (‘Eurojust Regulation’), the Council shall, acting on a proposal by the Commission and by means of implementing acts, determine a mechanism for compensation to be made available to a Member State whose national member is elected President of Eurojust by 12 December 2019. In accordance with Article 11(7) of the Eurojust Regulation, a Member State may, when its national member is elected President, second another suitably qualified person to reinforce the national desk for the duration of the former’s mandate as President.

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

The Eurojust Regulation was adopted on 14 November 2018. In accordance with Article 12(1) and (2) thereof, the Commission should propose a mechanism for the determination of compensation, which is to be made available to a Member State, if the national member of that Member State has been elected President of Eurojust. In accordance with the Regulation, the Member State concerned has to request the compensation from the College of Eurojust, and provide justification for the need to reinforce its national desk on grounds of an increased workload. The aim of the compensation mechanism is to support the Member State concerned, when its national member is elected President and the relevant national desk needs reinforcement in order to fulfil its tasks.

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

Article 85 on the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provides for Eurojust to be governed by a regulation, adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure. One of the aims of the Eurojust Regulation is to strengthen the operational functions of Eurojust by reducing the administrative workload of national members. The role of the President will involve more management and administrative tasks, thus it will be challenging for him or her to focus entirely on operational issues. For this reason, the possibility for the Member State concerned was introduced to second another suitably qualified person to Eurojust, for whom this Member State should be compensated in accordance with the relevant rules.

With this proposal, the Commission implements its legal obligation under Article 12(1) of the Eurojust Regulation. The proposal is therefore consistent with the existing policy provisions in this area.

•Consistency with other Union policies

This proposal is consistent with the Union policies and legislative work aiming at implementing an area of freedom, security and justice, as set under the Title V of TFEU, including the principle of mutual recognition. This principle is the core principle in the field of judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

•Legal basis

The proposal is based on Article 12 of the Eurojust Regulation.

•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

In accordance with Article 12 of Eurojust Regulation, the Commission is legally required to submit a proposal for the determination of the compensation mechanism. This proposal is essential to ensure that the Member State, whose national member is elected President, can request such compensation, in the cases determined by the Eurojust Regulation.

•Proportionality

This proposal is limited to what is necessary in order to attain the proposed objective, and is therefore compliant with the principle of proportionality. This proposal is directly linked to the implementation of the Eurojust Regulation.

3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS