On 22 November 2024, the CyberSPEX project, a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Council of Europe, held an webinar to introduce and further discuss the procedures enhancing direct cooperation with private entities and providers in other Parties under the Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention) (Art. 6 - 7).
Among the participants were Representatives from EU Member States, including legislators, law enforcement officials, and judicial practitioners, as well as representatives of the relevant EU agencies such as Europol, Eurojust, CEPOL and the European Judicial Cybercrime Network.
The workshop offered EU Member States the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanism for direct cooperation and practicalities of the implementation of Articles 6 and 7 of the Second Additional Protocol. It provided a platform to address challenges related to direct cooperation with service providers and to explore strategies for aligning domestic legislation with the protocol. Participants also had the chance to share comparative insights between the Second Protocol and the EU e-evidence package and explore best practices, such as the establishment of Single Points of Contact (SPOCs) for streamlined cooperation.
The workshop is part of a wider effort by the CyberSPEX project to support EU Member States in signing, ratifying, and implementing the Second Additional Protocol, and therefore further capacity building support will be provided under the project.
Council of Europe dedicated webpages: Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), Second Additional Protocol
Council of Europe Treaty Office: Details of the Convention (ETS No. 185), Second Additional Protocol (CETS 224)