Trinity Conference Examines Cross Border Crime and Law Enforcement

Posted on: 24 March 2014

The law enforcement challenges posed by cross border crime were examined by legal experts at a major international conference hosted by Trinity College Dublin. Organised by Trinity’s Irish Centre for European Law and part-funded by the European Commission (OLAF) under the Hercule II programme, the conference, Prospects for Criminal Law at EU Level, will bring together prosecutors, judges and experts in criminal law from around the European Union.

The issue of cross-border crime, and particularly crime that affects the financial interests of the EU, raises difficult questions and challenges for law enforcement. The conference will provide in‐depth coverage of a range of related issues including the criminal liability of company directors in different member states and how Ireland and the UK, which have decided to opt out of the new the European Public Prosecutors Office, will interact with that new system.

Pictured at the event were Claire Loftus, Director of Public Prosecutions, Ireland and Barra McGrory QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, Northern Ireland

The conference also looked at the human rights issues raised by EU criminal law and the increasing influence of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Other areas explored include interactions between national and European law and updates on the Commission’s proposals for EU criminal law.

Speakers at the conference on March 20th and 21st, 2014 included:

Ms Michèle Coninsx, President, Eurojust, European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit
Ms Claire Loftus, Director of Public Prosecutions, Ireland
Mr Barra McGrory QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, Northern Ireland
The Hon. Mrs Justice Fidelma Macken, Chairperson, Irish Centre for European Law and retired Judge CJEU & Irish Supreme Court

Conference organiser Nathy Dunleavy, Director of the Irish Centre for European Law, commented: “This conference will look at aspects of criminal law at EU level in relation to the protection of the EU’s Financial Interests. We are particularly delighted to be welcoming the President of Eurojust, Michele Coninsx, given the crucial role that Eurojust plays in the area of cross-border crime in the EU.”

“The conference will provide updates on the Commission’s proposals for EU criminal law and consider important questions such as how synergies between legislators and authorities at the national and EU level can be improved. The conference will also look at the criminal liability of company directors in different Member States and an assessment of how this may affect prospects for effective rules at the EU level.”

Media Contact:

Fiona Tyrrell, Press Officer for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Trinity College Dublin | tyrrellf@tcd.ie | + 353 1 8964337