Cooperation among the Offices of the Prosecutors General of the Visegrad Group States has proven to be highly important, continuous and uninterrupted for several years. The two main topics discussed at this year’s meeting in Łódź, Poland were the impact of digitalisation of criminal proceedings on the cross-border prosecution of crime and judicial cooperation with third countries in criminal matters.
The meeting with a long tradition was held in Łódź on 14-16 May 2024, and it was attended by Adam Bodnar, Prosecutor General of the Republic of Poland, who was hosting the event, as well as by delegations led by Maroš Žilinka, Prosecutor General of the Slovak Republic, Igor Stříž, Prosecutor General of the Czech Republic and Dr. Péter Polt, Prosecutor General of Hungary.
The two main topics discussed at the event were the impact of digitalisation of criminal proceedings on the cross-border prosecution of crime and judicial cooperation with third countries in criminal matters.
The Prosecutors General of the Visegrad Group States unanimously declared that the use of modern technology in prosecutors’ work significantly improves the dynamics of proceedings and thereby increases the efficiency of the fight against crime. At the same time, they called for the need of interoperability with the IT systems of courts and the police.
The Prosecutors General highlighted that cooperation among the criminal judicial authorities of their countries as well as with other Members States of the EU is excellent. They, however, identified similar problems concerning the cooperation with third countries.
At the end of the meeting, the Prosecutors General of the Visegrad Group States signed the Łódź Declaration, expressing their commitment to strengthening their cooperation and upholding European standards in the work of prosecution authorities.
Since 2012, the Prosecutors General of the Visegrad Group States have met in different V4 countries each year to share their experiences about the prosecution of crimes – including, in particular, serious, cross-border crimes – and to make joint initiatives regarding the improvement of the work of prosecution authorities.
