The hague: The National Center for International Judicial Cooperation signed a strategic working agreement on Tuesday with the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust).

According to Iraqi News Agency, the Supreme Judicial Council stated that the agreement was signed at Eurojust’s headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands, during the period from 29 to 30 June 2026. This move is seen as a significant step in strengthening Iraq’s position in international judicial cooperation.

The agreement was signed by Judge Ali Hussein Jafat, Head of the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation, on behalf of the Supreme Judicial Council, and by Eurojust President Michael Schmid on the European side. The signing ceremony was attended by senior judicial and diplomatic officials.

Judge Ali Hussein Jafat described the agreement as a crucial achievement for developing judicial cooperation between Iraq and European Union member states. He emphasized that the agreement symbolizes mutual trust and a shared commitment to tackling terrorism, organized crime, and serious international crimes, ensuring that perpetrators do not evade justice. The agreement also aims to enhance mechanisms for joint cooperation, particularly concerning extradition requests.

Eurojust President Michael Schmid commended the close partnership with the National Center, highlighting the necessity of rapid information exchange and judicial coordination between countries for the effective handling of organized crime and international crimes. He noted that Iraq is now the tenth non-EU country to sign a working agreement with Eurojust, marking a significant institutional achievement.

This development is in line with the strategic vision of the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zidan, to expand partnerships with global judicial institutions, improve information exchange, support the extradition of accused individuals, and streamline legal cooperation with international partners.