Newsroom
89th Plenary meeting of the PC-OC, Council of Europe’s Committee on international cooperation in criminal matters
The Committee of Experts on the Operation of the European Conventions on Cooperation in Criminal Matters (PC-OC) held its 89th meeting from the 19th to the 21st of May 2026 in Strasbourg. The PC-OC discussed a range of issues based on concrete experiences relating to judicial co-operation raised...
39th meeting of the Restricted Group of experts on international co-operation (PC-OC Mod)
The PC-OC Mod is a restricted group of the PC-OC, Council of Europe’s Committee on international cooperation in criminal matters. Its 39th meeting was held in Strasbourg on 17-19 March 2026 and covered a range of topics, including the relationship between asylum and extradition procedures and...
88th Plenary meeting of the PC-OC, Council of Europe’s Committee on international cooperation in criminal matters
The Committee of Experts on the Operation of the European Conventions on Cooperation in Criminal Matters (PC-OC) held its 88th meeting from the 4th to the 6th of November 2025 in Strasbourg. The main items on the agenda included the relationship between asylum and extradition proceedings, time...
The Restricted Group of experts on international co-operation (PC-OC Mod) held its 38th meeting from 23 to 25 September 2025 in Strasbourg
The PC-OC Mod welcomed the fact that the Third Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (“Valletta Protocol”) had already been signed by 16 States when it was opened for signature at the Informal Conference of Ministers of Justice in Valletta (18-19...
Council of Europe modernises provisions for mutual assistance in criminal matters
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted a third Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, marking an important step in the modernisation of judicial co-operation. The new Protocol aims to strengthen the capacity of member and...
87th Plenary meeting of the PC-OC, Council of Europe’s Committee on international co-operation in criminal matters
The Committee of Experts on the Operation of the European Conventions on Cooperation in Criminal Matters (PC-OC) held its 87th meeting from the 13th to the 15th of May 2025 in Strasbourg. The main items on the agenda included the issue of confidentiality in MLA proceedings, the hearing of victims...
The Restricted Group of experts on international co-operation (PC-OC Mod) held its 37th meeting from 25 to 27 March 2025 in Strasbourg
The main items on the agenda included the examination of the responses to questionnaires concerning confidentiality within the framework of the mutual assistance process and the application of the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, as well as the supervision of conditionally...
Chile accedes to the European Convention on Extradition
On 3 mars 2025, the Republic of Chile acceded to the European Convention on Extradition (ETS No. 24), the Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Extradition (ETS No. 86), and the Second Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Extradition (ETS No. 98). The Convention will...
Latvia ratifies the Protocol amending the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons
On 25 November 2024, Latvia ratified the Protocol amending the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (CETS No. 222). At the time of ratification, Latvia made a declaration in accordance with Article 5 of the Protocol that Latvia will apply the provisions of...
PC-OC held it 85th meeting in Strasbourg
The Committee of Experts on the Operation of European Conventions on Co-operation in Criminal Matters (PC-OC) held its 85th meeting on 14-16 May 2024 in Strasbourg. Main items on the agenda included a draft Third Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal...
The PC-OC held its 84th meeting
The Committee of Experts on the Operation of European Conventions on Co-operation in Criminal Matters (PC-OC) held its 84the meeting on 14-16 November 2023 in Strasbourg. Main items on the agenda included the application of the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters to...
Portugal ratifies the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons
Portugal ratified the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (ETS No. 167) and signed and ratified the Protocol amending the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (CETS No. 222).
The PC-OC held its 83rd meeting
The PC-OC held its 83rd meeting on 2-4 May 2023. Main items on the agenda included the application of the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters to co-operation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, a 3rd Additional Protocol which will update this Convention, the...
Azebaijan signs the Second Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters
Azebaijan signed the Second Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (ETS No. 182).
Azerbaijan ratifies the Fourth Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Extradition
Azerbaijan ratified the Fourth Additional Protocol to the European Convention on Extradition (CETS No. 212). The entry into force of the protocol regarding Azerbaijan is foreseen for 1st of May 2023.
The PC-OC held its 82nd meeting
The PC-OC held its 82nd meeting on 15-17 November. Main items on the agenda included accession of non-member States to conventions of the Council of Europe on international co-operation in criminal matters, practical experiences regarding extradition and mutual legal assistance proceedings, the...
The PC-OC held its 81st meeting
The PC-OC held its 81st meeting on 18-20 May. Main items on the agenda included international co-operation in criminal matters with non-member states of the Council of Europe, consequences of the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine on international co-operation, discussions on...
The Russian Federation is excluded from the Council of Europe
In an extraordinary meeting this morning, the Committee of Ministers decided, in the context of the procedure launched under Article 8 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, that the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe as from today, after 26 years of membership....
Co-operation affected by COVID-19: Interim measures
The sanitary crisis due to COVID 19 is affecting the functioning of central authorities in an increasing number of States and may lead to delays in the handling of requests for extradition, mutual assistance and transfer of sentenced persons. The central authorities of several States have sent...
Montenegro ratifies the Protocol amending the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons
Montenegro ratified the Protocol amending the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (CETS No. 222).
Assisting in and developing international co-operation in criminal matters
www.coe.int/tcj
Updated ECHR case law concerning international co-operation
International cooperation in criminal matters in the case law of the European Court of Human Rights
Extradition - European standards – Revised edition
HELP online course on International Cooperation in Criminal Matters
