On 25 January 2022, the European Union, the Council of Europe and Interpol hosted the 11th meeting of the GLACY+ Steering Committee to discuss developments in priority countries, review GLACY+ project activities in the second half of 2021, and plan project activities to take place in 2022.

During the meeting, the project team, GLACY+ priority and hub countries and project partners actively engaged in a review of the key activities delivered in the second half of 2021, including support to strengthen national legislation, strategies and policies on cybercrime and electronic evidence in line with international standards, and to reinforce the capacities of law enforcement and criminal justice authorities to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes.

Representatives of GLACY+ priority and hub countries also shared key national developments and indicated their priorities for activities to take place in 2022.

Other important topics of discussion included the announcement by the European Union of additional funding for the project, and a presentation of the new work streams added to the project for 2022, which address: policy dialogue concerning cybercrime and electronic evidence, the impact of new technologies on cybercrime and the criminal justice response to these offences, and COVID-19 related cybercrime.

With more than 70 project activities in form of national, regional and international events, as well as desk studies, organised since the last Steering Committee in July 2021, participants underlined that GLACY+ continues to provide its priority countries with consistent, tailored support on the criminal justice response to cybercrime. The meeting also reflected the importance of the project’s collaboration with its project partners.

The Steering Committee was held online in two identical sessions to allow participation from across the many time zones covered by the project.