Cybercrime

Addressing well-known problems of efficiency and expedience of international co-operation on cybercrime and electronic evidence, Mutual Legal Assistance Guidelines were agreed by Eastern Partnership states back in 2021, under the joint CyberEast regional initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe.

5 years after, international co-operation, judicial and law enforcement representatives from 10 countries were gathered in Yerevan, Armenia on 22 and 23 April 2026 to review and update these Guidelines in line with recent standards and improved practices. Two joint regional projects of the European Union and of the Council of Europe, CyberEast+ and CyberSouth+, in partnership with the Council of Europe Octopus Project, based on voluntary contributions, organised these cross-regional discussions.

Representatives from Armenia, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Republic of Moldova, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and Ukraine gathered to discuss and update on themes of legal basis and regulations for co-operation, as well as efficient management of the cooperation process and quality of outgoing requests, as part of these Guidelines.

The meeting produced updated 2026 MLA Guidelines, which will be further refined and circulated to all participants for comments and suggestions. The revised Guidelines will form a basis for dedicated training session and tabletop exercise, planned to be conducted at the end of October 2026.

These practice-oriented Guidelines, aligned with requirements of the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention) and its Second Additional Protocol, aim to walk the states through on both legal and practical methods to improve the speed and quality of mutual legal assistance. Strengthening the capacity of states to co-operate swiftly and efficiently on cybercrime and electronic evidence reinforces the rule of law in cyberspace at a time when cyber threats increasingly amplify threats to public safety, security, and individual rights.

CyberEast+ Project

CyberSouth+ Project

Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention)

Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime

Octopus Project 

*This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of Council of Europe and European Union member States on this issue