Shaping European Criminal Law Together
The ECBA Working Groups are where Europe’s leading defence lawyers collaborate to shape the future of criminal law. Dive into our focus areas, meet our experts, and discover how we are influencing policy and practice.
What Are ECBA Working Groups?
Working Groups are the ECBA’s collaborative hubs of expertise. They bring together legal professionals from across Europe to explore, analyse, and respond to key issues in criminal justice. From drafting expert opinions to influencing EU legislative developments, our WGs are where strategy meets substance.
Why get involved?
For Practitioners
Deepen your expertise, connect with peers, and contribute to legal developments across Europe.
For Academics
Join interdisciplinary debates, access unique practitioner insights, and collaborate on cross-border research.
For Policymakers
Engage with experienced defence lawyers and access the ECBA’s collective knowledge in shaping fair and effective justice systems.
For New Members
Build your European legal network, develop your profile, and gain practical experience on high-impact issues.
Themes & Strategic Role
The ECBA Working Groups are more than discussion forums – they are engines of change. They focus on:
Promoting high standards in criminal defence across Europe
Collaborating with institutions and civil society as a trusted partner
Producing scientific, policy-oriented, and advocacy outputs
Strengthening the ECBA’s role in EU justice initiatives
ECBA Working Groups overview
Business Crime
- Sanctions
- Financial Crime & AML
- Corruption & Bribery
- ESG
- EPPO
Cybercrime, Tech & AI
- E-evidence
- Video-Conferencing
- E-Justice, AI & Lawtech
International Co-operation
- Extradition
- EAW
- INTERPOL
- MLA
Human Rights
- Defending the Defence
- Death Penalty Opposition
- Fair Trial Standards
- Safeguarding Independent Legal Institutions
- Human Rights Recognition
- Protest Defence Rights
Projects & Impact
Our Working Groups produce real results. Highlights include:
ECBA Handbook on the European Arrest Warrant
One of the ECBA’s landmark deliverables for the European defence community: the ECBA Handbook on the European Arrest Warrant.
ECBA Statement on Videoconferencing in Criminal Proceedings
A key ECBA contribution to the European debate on fair trial standards in the digital age: the ECBA Statement on Videoconferencing in Criminal Proceedings.
ERA Project “European Criminal Law for Defence Lawyers”
The ECBA-ERA partnership has equipped hundreds of defence lawyers with the practical knowledge and networks needed to defend effectively in EU criminal proceedings.
Meet the Coordinators
Our Working Groups are led by expert defence lawyers committed to collaboration and impact.
“The Working Groups allow us to do more than practice law – they let us shape it.”
— Alexis Anagnostakis, Human Rights WG
Join a Working Group
Want to contribute your expertise? Join a Working Group:
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Open to all ECBA members
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Regular virtual meetings and special projects
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Opportunities to publish, speak, and shape debate
If you are an ECBA member interested in joining a working group, please email the secretariat at secretariat@ecba.org (or click below), providing a brief outline of your reasons for wanting to join.
Official statements
ECBA & LATR Joint Submission: Reforming INTERPOL’s Oversight – March 2026
The ECBA and Lawyers Against Transnational Repression (LATR) have submitted a joint response to INTERPOL’s Committee on the Processing of Data (CPD) regarding proposed amendments to the CCF Statute.
Safeguarding INTERPOL’s Systems: Recommendations for Reform – February 2026
The ECBA and Lawyers Against Transnational Repression (LATR) have submitted a joint response to INTERPOL’s Committee on the Processing of Data (CPD) regarding proposed amendments to the CCF Statute.
ECBA Responds to EU Commission’s AI Act Consultation – January 2025
The ECBA has submitted its response to the EU Commission’s consultation on the AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689), focusing on several aspects affecting criminal law and procedure.
ECBA Response to INTERPOL CPD Call for Papers – October 2025
The European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA) submitted a response to the Committee on the Processing of Data (CPD)’s call for contributions in relation to...
ECBA reply to the Call for input of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers – May 2025
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, invited Member States, national human rights...
ECBA Response to Interpol CPD Call for Papers – April 2025
The European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA) has submitted a response to the Committee on the Processing of Data (CPD) in relation to proposed amendments...
ECBA Responds to EU Commission’s AI Act Consultation – January 2025
The European Criminal Bar Association has submitted its response to the EU Commission’s consultation on the AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689),...
ECBA Statement calling the Interpol to reaffirm its commitment to uphold human rights standards – November 2024
November 2024 – On the eve of INTERPOL’s General Assembly, the ECBA issued a Statement calling on the organisation and member countries to...
ECBA Position Paper on the Digitalisation of Justice – November 2024
The rapid digitalisation of justice brings both opportunities and challenges for criminal proceedings across Europe. The ECBA has published...
ECBA Opinion on Proposal for a Regulation on the transfer of proceedings COM (2023) 185 final – 2023/0093 (COD) – March 2024
The ECBA publishes its opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation on the transfer of proceedings COM (2023) 185 final – 2023/0093 (COD) as well as the...
ECBA Statement on mutual recognition of extradition decisions – June 2022
Across Europe, persons who have been successful in challenging INTERPOL red notices, extradition requests or EAW proceedings face the risk of re-arrest and...
The ECBA calls with Fair Trials, EDRi and civil society on the EU Council, EU Parliament and EU states to ban predictive systems in policing & criminal justice – March 2022
The ECBA joins the Fair Trials and European Digital Rights initiative and civil society call on the Council of the European Union, the European...
Latest Posts
Join us Friday 15 May, 2026 for the upcoming Extradition Challenges webinar
A Brussels court ordered Belgium to negotiate the return of a wrongly extradited person to the US — a landmark case discussed with Belgian defence lawyer Christophe Marchand.
Writing a new Statement on the Directive on Combatting Corruption
Preparing an ECBA follow-up position on the final EU Anti-Corruption Directive, assessing reforms and remaining defence-rights concerns in Europe’s evolving enforcement framework.
Strategic litigation and court interventions
The HRC files third-party interventions and amicus briefs in landmark cases before European and domestic courts, ensuring the criminal defence bar shapes the law that governs it.
Drafting and Publishing Statements
The HRC publishes expert statements on judicial independence, lawyer-client privilege, and fair trial rights – driving policy reform and solidarity across Europe and beyond.
Day of the Endangered Lawyer
Every January 24th, ECBA’s HRC stands with persecuted lawyers worldwide coordinating advocacy, public outreach, and legal interventions to defend those who defend others.
Mutual Legal Assistance WG Webinars
The purpose of the MLA working group webinars is to increase knowledge and awareness amongst defence practitioners about the various MLA instruments as well as procedural and other ECHR safeguards in that context.
Engaging with INTERPOL on Policy aspects
The Interpol WG seeks to engage with Interpol on policy, addressing governing shortcomings. We drive dialogue on transparency, fairness, and human rights safeguards, promoting continued improvement in its practices.
EPPO Webinar
The webinar hosts defence lawyers and academics or magistrates that discuss practical issues and experiences regarding EPPO cases from different countries. Their scope is to describe relevant defense issues and to advise the members of the ECBA on how to handle them.
ERA Project “European Criminal Law for Defence Lawyers”
The ECBA-ERA partnership has equipped hundreds of defence lawyers with the practical knowledge and networks needed to defend effectively in EU criminal proceedings.
ECBA Statement on Videoconferencing in Criminal Proceedings
A key ECBA contribution to the European debate on fair trial standards in the digital age: the ECBA Statement on Videoconferencing in Criminal Proceedings.
ECBA Handbook on the European Arrest Warrant
One of the ECBA’s landmark deliverables for the European defence community: the ECBA Handbook on the European Arrest Warrant.
Global Legal Community Calls for the Release of Nasrin Sotoudeh – April 2026
On 10 April 2026, the ECBA and a coalition of 30 international legal organisations issued a formal call for intervention concerning the judicial harassment...