Digitalising judicial cooperation in criminal matters: Nailed It on the First Try?

This Long-Read explores recent EU legislative initiatives aimed at modernizing judicial cooperation via digital tools. Specifically, it examines Regulation (EU) 2844/2023 and Directive (EU) 2023/2843, both of which were approved in January 2024. These measures aim to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and resilience in cross-border civil, commercial, and criminal judicial processes. The article highlights how digital tools, such as videoconferencing and electronic documents, are being integrated into the EU legal framework on judicial cooperation in criminal matters. It also discusses the potential impacts, including indirect harmonization of domestic systems and challenges posed by applying the same digital standards across varied legal fields. While praising the comprehensive legislative approach, the authors question whether the "technological neutrality" assumed in these reforms sufficiently accounts for the diverse needs of national criminal justice systems and the rights of vulnerable persons in digital settings.​