The Academy of European Law (ERA), together with partners, has released a set of free training materials aimed at strengthening defence lawyers’ capacity to handle cross-border criminal cases across Europe. The resources are openly accessible online and are part of the “European Criminal Law for Defence Lawyers” project. The programme “European Criminal Law for Defence Lawyers” focuses on practical understanding of EU tools, such as the European Arrest Warrant and the European Investigation Order, as well as broader procedural rights and rule-of-law safeguards.

The initiative is co-financed by the European Commission under EU justice funding programmes, supporting a two-year training effort that includes seminars, webinars, e-learning modules, and publicly available materials. The materials are designed to address the growing number of cross-border criminal proceedings, where knowledge of national law alone may be insufficient. The training package includes:

• Background documentation on EU criminal law topics;
• Self-paced e-learning modules;
• Recorded webinars and video lectures.

Subjects covered range from mutual recognition instruments and legal privilege to digitalisation in criminal justice, including e-evidence and video-conferencing. The modules also explain the roles of EU agencies involved in criminal cooperation, including Europol, Eurojust, and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The project reflects broader EU efforts to enhance mutual trust and consistent application of European criminal law through practitioner training and cooperation.