From November 9 to 11, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10) held a regional workshop for the heads of investigation units of the law enforcement agencies, and representatives of the prosecutors’ offices from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

This workshop promoted a common understanding and approach to the operation of Joint Investigation Teams (JIT) investigating cross-border crimes.

The experts from the General Prosecutor's Office of Lithuania presented the international cooperation policy of the EU member states in criminal matters, introduced the European Union concept on JIT, and developed a common understanding and approach to JIT for investigation of cross-border crimes. Also, they shared knowledge on the legal basis and principles of judicial cooperation in criminal matters, instruments of legal cooperation, and EU institutions supporting judicial coordination and cooperation.

The participants explored the possibilities of adapting this concept and creating the JIT model, taking into account national practices and standards of international legal cooperation in the countries of Central Asia (CA). Also, they analysed the international cooperation practices of the CA countries in the investigation of cross-border crimes.

As a result of the regional workshop, preliminary conclusions and proposals were developed for the implementation of the JIT model, taking into account the existing practices and standards of international legal cooperation in the participating Central Asian countries.

This activity is the second and final regional workshop for the same target group, where recommendations on establishing JIT were provided. The first activity was held in September 2022.