The JHA network has an important role to play in Europe. Their work helps ensure that the EU is well equipped to deal with security, justice, fundamental rights and gender equality. The agencies work on a wide range of important areas, including migration and border management, drug trafficking and combating organised crime, human trafficking and gender equality. Since these areas have a lot in common, the network was established to make use of the synergies and share information.
The network includes nine agencies: CEPOL, EASO, EIGE, EMCDDA, eu-LISA, Eurojust, Europol, FRA and Frontex. The JHA agencies take turns in chairing the network. Europol is the chair in 2019.
The JHA agencies report jointly to the Council’s Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal Security (COSI) regarding the network’s progress and achievements. In line with this requirement, a formal report, to be endorsed by the Heads of the JHA agencies in November in The Hague, will be presented to COSI by the end of the year.
JHA Agencies Network priority topic for 2019
In 2019, the JHA agencies’ network intends to engage in a joint strategic reflection on the role of JHA agencies’ cooperation in the future development of the EU security architecture.
This should give the opportunity to agencies to discuss future perspectives for cooperation in light of a changing political environment due to the upcoming elections of the European Parliament and the new Commission taking office towards the end of the year.
In order to frame the network discussions, the network members identified sub-topics of common interest, to be addressed during the three meetings of the network. The main outcome of the network meetings will be discussed at the Heads of JHA Agencies meeting in November.
| Meeting | Date |
|---|---|
| 1st JHA Agencies Network meeting | 26-27 February 2019 |
| 2nd JHA Agencies Network meeting | 18-19 June 2019 |
| 3rd JHA network meeting | 25-26 September 2019 |
| Heads of JHA Agencies meeting | 22 November 2019 |
| Communication meeting | Date TBC |
| Data Protection Officers (DPO) meeting - Europol HQ, The Hague |
4 - 5 July 2019 26 - 27 September 2019 |
| Training meeting, co-chaired by CEPOL and Europol - CEPOL HQ, Budapest | 25 - 26 June 2019 |
| External Relations meeting | Date TBC |
| Diversity and Inclusion meeting - Europol HQ, The Hague | 5 July 2019 |
| ICT& cybersecurity meeting | Date TBC |
| FRA Cybercrime Expert meeting - FRA HQ, Vienna | 14-15 May 2019 |
| Meeting of the informal JHA Agencies group on interoperability and CRRS - eu-LISA HQ, Tallinn | 9-10 July 2019 |
| EIGE Gender Equality Index Conference - Brussels | 15 October 2019 |
| eu-LISA annual conference - eu-LISA HQ, Tallinn | 16 October 2019 |