The government today implemented Directive 2014/41/EU on the European Investigation Order in criminal matters.

By means of this Directive, a specific procedure was established together with enforcement deadlines and other specific regulations to regulate judicial cooperation in criminal investigations in a uniform and effective manner.

This Directive covers investigations tied with the person as well as the issuing of information relating to bank accounts and assets (physical or juridical), including the monitoring in real time of bank operations and controlled deliveries.

Several measures mentioned in this Directive were already incorporated into Maltese law.

This Directive builds on other EU legislations which came into force during the last few years and by means of which judicial cooperation in criminal matters is being strengthened.

Among these instruments is the European Evidence Warrant as well as specific requests for the collection of evidence, hearing of witnesses, freezing of assets etc., all of which are enacted under the generic term of mutual legal assistance between member states and the European Union.