INTERVIEW Gordana Janićijević, VJT Public Prosecutor on the Eurojust Case: Interest Groups Wanted Cooperation with the EU Against Crime to Stop

INTERVIEW Gordana Janićijević, VJT Public Prosecutor on the Eurojust Case: Interest Groups Wanted Cooperation with the EU Against Crime to Stop Gordana Janićijević, who served as Serbia’s liaison prosecutor with Eurojust for six years, had her mandate terminated by the High Prosecutorial Council, leading to the closure of Serbia’s Eurojust office and a halt in cooperation. Janićijević speculates that interest groups may have influenced this decision to disrupt successful cooperation with the EU against organized crime. The termination jeopardizes over 200 cases, including nine active organized crime investigations with high-profile targets in Serbia.

• Gordana Janićijević’s six-year mandate as Serbia’s liaison prosecutor with Eurojust was not extended by the High Prosecutorial Council.
• Serbia subsequently closed its Eurojust office on March 1, ceasing cooperation with the EU agency for judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
• Janićijević suggests that interest groups may have sought to halt successful cooperation with the EU against organized crime.
• The closure leaves over 200 cases in limbo, including nine active organized crime investigations and four initiated by the EU.
• Eurojust officials expressed disbelief and concern over the decision, highlighting the disruption to ongoing investigations and the loss of built trust.
• The absence of a physical presence in The Hague could limit Serbian prosecutors’ access to essential databases and analytical tools.
• Janićijević emphasizes the importance of trust and professionalism in international cooperation, stating that Serbian prosecutors have demonstrated integrity and commitment to the rule of law.
• Serbia benefited significantly from Eurojust cooperation, gaining faster information exchange, access to operational data, and improved institutional capacities.
• Janićijević describes her work at Eurojust as a highly intensive and important professional experience, highlighting the shared commitment of prosecutors to finding solutions despite legal system differences.