BRUSSELS, 16 October 2025: The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, Eurojust, has concluded the inaugural meeting of its Judicial Focus Group on Money Laundering and Asset Recovery, issuing concrete recommendations to improve cross-border judicial cooperation and accelerate asset recovery procedures across the EU.
Held over two days at Eurojust headquarters in The Hague, the meeting brought together prosecutors, judges, and experts from EU member states and partner countries. Discussions centered on the increasing use of crypto-assets in laundering operations, the cross-border movement of illicit funds, and the rise of commercial services offering money laundering capabilities to organised crime networks.
Participants examined the growing sophistication of so-called “crime-as-a-service” models, where criminal groups leverage business structures to mask the origin of proceeds derived from illegal activities. Authorities reported that such operations are increasingly professionalised and involve multiple jurisdictions, creating challenges for traditional investigative and judicial frameworks.
A key focus of the meeting was the presentation of Eurojust’s first Casework Report on Regulation (EU) 2018/1805, which governs the mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders across member states. The report compiles insights from real cases and highlights both progress and recurring issues faced by national authorities in the practical enforcement of the Regulation.
Crypto-assets pose new legal challenges in laundering cases
According to Eurojust, the report serves as a tool to strengthen cooperation by offering examples of how judicial practitioners can address procedural delays, divergent legal interpretations, and technical inconsistencies in executing cross-border asset freezes and confiscations. Workshops during the meeting included case-based exercises and presentations from various international bodies involved in anti-money laundering operations.
Authorities shared recent case studies and collaborative initiatives, underscoring the importance of timely information exchange, alignment of legal frameworks, and coordinated action among judicial partners. Eurojust officials stated that technology and innovation continue to play a central role in both the evolution of financial crime and efforts to counter it.
Delegates stressed the importance of adapting legal tools to match new methods of money movement, particularly those involving digital currencies and anonymous payment systems. The agency reiterated its commitment to supporting member states in their judicial work and enhancing coordination through existing platforms.
Cross-border complexities slow financial crime enforcement
Eurojust currently facilitates cross-border investigations and prosecutions by providing legal and technical expertise, coordinating actions, and offering secure channels for information sharing among authorities. The meeting concluded with a series of technical recommendations aimed at improving the use of Regulation 2018/1805, enhancing training for judicial practitioners, and increasing awareness of common challenges related to money laundering and asset recovery.
These proposals are expected to inform ongoing EU efforts to streamline financial crime enforcement mechanisms and bolster judicial cooperation frameworks. This year’s meeting of the Judicial Focus Group marks the first of what Eurojust plans to be an annual forum to address emerging trends in financial crime.
The agency continues to expand its operational capacity in response to the growing scale and complexity of illicit financial flows impacting the EU’s internal market. According to Eurojust, the outcomes of the meeting will be integrated into broader EU policy discussions and operational planning, including upcoming evaluations of the effectiveness of cross-border judicial cooperation tools in tackling transnational organised crime. – By EuroWire News Desk.