Ms. E. Dobrovolska: Lithuania advocates the development of digital processes in the field of law enforcement
The Minister of Justice, Ms. Evelina Dobrovolska, attending the meeting of the EU Council of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers, drew the attention of EU Justice Ministers to the aspects of implementation of data security, primacy of law, and human rights in the context of digitisation.
According to Ms. E. Dobrovolska, the issue of illegal content in the online space requires common EU legal instruments and closer cooperation in criminal cases.
The Minister emphasized that in order for the judicial authorities to effectively combat criminal offences in the digital space, EU Member States should expeditiously share information and report serious criminal offences. At the same time, it is important also to keep in mind illegal content in the digital space and measures to remove such information.
The EU Ministerial meeting also addressed the aspects of digitalisation and operational efficiency in the context of the activities of prosecutors' offices.
"Digitization of processes, implementation of innovative solutions are priority measures that allow to ensure the efficiency of legal processes, time and cost reduction, therefore Lithuania will promote the development of digital processes and seek effective cooperation of law enforcement authorities internationally," Ms. E. Dobrovolska stressed during the meeting.
"It is particularly important to ensure that public prosecutors' offices have adequate and secure information technology tools, and the European Public Prosecutor's Office, which has recently become operational and with which the Lithuanian Public Prosecutor's Office is ready to cooperate, will also help to achieve effective investigations into crimes damaging the EU's financial interests," emphasised Ms. E. Dobrovolska.
During the meeting it was also decided to continue the dialogue on the exchange of personal data between the EU and the USA, ensuring clarity for business on the applicable requirements in the area of personal data protection. For this it is intended to draw on the effective good practices of data controllers and national supervisory authorities.
The Council of Ministers agreed on a general approach on a regulation extending the functions of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights providing that this agency's expert activities will also cover the field of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, thereby ensuring the compatibility of the Regulation with the Treaty of Lisbon. In addition, the amendments to the Regulation will improve the internal operating procedures of this agency. Once the EP has given its approval to the amendments to this regulation, it will be adopted by the Council of Ministers.
The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights is one of the decentralised agencies of the European Union, established in 2007. It provides independent, evidence-based advice in the areas of discrimination, racism, xenophobia, data protection, protection of children's rights and others.