Minister Habijan at informal meeting of JHA Council

Minister of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation Damir Habijan participated in the informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union in Nicosia, Cyprus, on 22 and 23 January 2026

EU justice ministers discussed the strengthening of asset recovery in an evolving financial landscape. Cross-border organised crime and its illicit proceeds, estimated at no less than EUR 139 billion per year according to Europol’s assessment, continue to pose a serious threat to the Union, the legal economy and society as a whole.

It was pointed out that in a constantly evolving financial landscape, with new financial products and technologies creating new opportunities and thus new risks in terms of moving and hiding illegal funds and other assets, the effective application of available law enforcement tools by the authorities presented a constant challenge. Ministers also discussed the need for additional measures under criminal law and cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Ministers also discussed the cross-border return of illegally alienated cultural goods. It is generally estimated that illicit trafficking in cultural goods is the third largest international criminal activity, after drug and arms trafficking, and is a widespread European legal problem. Ministers exchanged views on the need to act on this issue at Union level. 

Finally, ministers exchanged views on the referral of young people who are drug addicts and in contact with the criminal justice system to drug treatment, i.e. the promotion of alternatives to detention/deprivation of liberty.

In 2019, the Council approved conclusions on alternative measures to deprivation of liberty, which encouraged Member States to explore possibilities to improve, where appropriate, the use of non-custodial sanctions and measures, such as suspended custodial sentences, community service, pecuniary fines, electronic monitoring and similar measures based on new technologies.

Ministers were invited to present the main aspects of their national practices with a focus on prevention and redirecting adolescents or young adults with drug abuse disorders from the justice system towards treatment and support services.

News