International Mutual Legal assistance

Most of the cases which the PNF is involved in have an international scope. As such, they rely on close cooperation with foreign judicial authorities: exchange of information, investigation requests, requests for arrest and extradition, implementation of coordination teams on behalf of Eurojust, joint investigation teams financed by European funds.

In 2018, the PNF sent 103 requests to its foreign counterparts and received 40 requests from them.

This international judicial cooperation is governed by bilateral or multilateral treaties signed by France, in particular:

• The European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters of April 20, 1959 and signed by the Council of Europe members states;
• The Schengen acquis-Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of June 19, 1990;
• The Convention dated 29 May, 2009 related to mutual assistance in criminal matters between the Members States of the European Union;
• The United Nations Convention Against Corruption of October 31, 2003 (known as the “Merida Convention”);
• The Convention on Cybercrime of the Council of Europe of November 23, 2001 (known as the “Budapest Convention”).

Even in the event of no international convention being available, a request for assistance can be submitted to French judicial authorities under the principle of reciprocity. Sections 694 and seq of the Criminal proceedings code are applicable in such a framework.

The PNF is involved in the work and workshops of the OECD, which facilitate discussions on best practices, international cooperation as well as the launch of new inquiries. The PNF is also involved in other institutional meetings.

The PNF has visits from official delegations on a regular basis. The PNF has working relationships with several counterparts that may lead to protocols of cooperation as part of a joint investigation team.

For more information, please contact the PNF using the following email address: pr-financier.tgi-paris@justice.fr

Can an international legal assistance request be directly sent to the PNF?

The French legal system - Présentation du système judiciaire français