Caribbean urged to deepen judicial cooperation with EU partners

Caribbean nations must boost judicial cooperation with European counterparts if they are to dismantle sophisticated transnational criminal networks, a senior United Nations official in the region said on Wednesday.  

Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Stephanie Ziebell, told a workshop on Caribbean-European Union judicial cooperation through EUROJUST Focal Points at Hotel Indigo, Hastings, that cross-border collaboration has become essential in combating modern crime.

“Today’s criminal threats do not respect borders,” she said, noting that organised crime, financial crime, cyber-enabled offences and other forms of transnational criminal activity increasingly require countries to work together.

“In this context, international cooperation is no longer a specialised function. It has become an essential component of modern criminal justice systems.”

The ability of countries to communicate effectively, share information efficiently and coordinate actions across jurisdictions was critical to tackling criminal organisations that operate beyond national boundaries, Ziebell said.

She linked the issue to broader governance work being undertaken by the UNDP in the region, including a recent CARICOM-UNDP diagnostic study examining regional approaches to crime, violence, resilience and human security.

The study, launched last month by CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis Dr Terrance Drew, found that fragmented responses to crime often fall short and that more integrated approaches are needed.

Ziebell highlighted the role of EUROJUST as an important tool available to Caribbean jurisdictions seeking to combat transnational crime. While traditional mechanisms such as mutual legal assistance treaties, extradition arrangements and police-to-police cooperation remain important, she said EUROJUST provides a dedicated platform focused on judicial and prosecutorial cooperation.

“It offers direct access to expertise, coordination mechanisms and practical support that can help national authorities navigate the increasingly complex legal and procedural challenges that arise when criminal investigations and prosecutions extend across multiple jurisdictions.”

According to Ziebell, the benefits of such cooperation become particularly evident when cases involve evidence, assets, suspects or witnesses located within the European Union.

She explained that EUROJUST can facilitate contact with relevant authorities, support judicial cooperation processes, help resolve jurisdictional challenges and identify the most effective legal pathways for advancing investigations and prosecutions.

“By strengthening these connections, countries are better positioned to pursue complex cases, recover criminal assets, secure critical evidence and ensure that justice is not hindered by national boundaries.”

Ziebell also described the importance of EUROJUST Focal Points as “vital bridges” between national authorities and international cooperation mechanisms.

The workshop is intended to help participants strengthen their understanding of available cooperation tools, deepen professional networks and exchange practical experiences related to international judicial cooperation.

Ziebell said: “In an increasingly interconnected world, effective justice cooperation contributes not only to public safety and the rule of law, but also to the stability, predictability and trust that support sustainable development, legitimate economic activity and long-term prosperity.”

Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Krystal Delaney mirrored Ziebell’s comments, stressing that given the size of the country, cooperation across borders is vital.

“Barbados is a very small country, but that does not mean we’re isolated. Transnational organized crime like drug and small arms trafficking, money laundering, and cybercrime affect us, and stretch the capacity of our institutions in ways that cannot be solved by any one office or any one jurisdiction.

“The reality is that no jurisdiction, however well resourced, can effectively investigate and prosecute transnational crime alone. There’s strength in numbers, and our collective response means that we are better placed to share information, coordinate investigations, provide mutual legal assistance, and ultimately to trust each other as partners, and that is what this workshop is about.”

(SB)