On 29 November 2022, the representatives of the EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Agencies’ Network met to reflect on their main achievements in 2022, especially with regard to the ongoing efforts to support EU Member States and institutions in responding to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. Additional topics on the agenda included presentations on the extended mandate of Eurojust to help Ukrainian authorities investigate war crimes, an update on the EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security by Europol, an overview by Frontex on border management under crisis and its impact on security architecture, and CEPOL’s new strategy for the period 2023-2027. The EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA) presented the work programme for its incoming network presidency in 2023.

The JHA Agencies’ Network (JHAAN) includes the following nine EU Agencies:

• The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE);
• The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA);
• The EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA);
• The EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust);
• The EU’s Law Enforcement Agency (Europol);
• The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA);
• The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex);
• The EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL);
• The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).

The JHAAN was initiated in 2010. It is an important cooperation tool protecting the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. Together, the JHA agencies contribute to the implementation of EU’s objectives in the fields of migration, asylum and external border management, the fight against organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism, gender equality and respect for fundamental rights. They also facilitate the functioning of relevant EU IT systems and law-enforcement training.