Key data
| Regulation | Council Decision (EU) 2026/2484, of 29 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Official reference | OJ:L_202602484 |
| Publication | 4 November 2026 |
| Entry into force | Not specified (negotiation opening phase) |
| Affected parties | Spanish and European judicial and prosecutorial authorities investigating transnational crimes |
| Category | European Regulation |
| Countries involved | Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, United Arab Emirates, Panama and Peru |
Companies with operations in Latin America or the United Arab Emirates should take note: the European Union has just taken a decisive step to strengthen its capacity to prosecute transnational economic crimes. The Council Decision (EU) 2026/2484, published on 4 November 2026, authorizes the opening of negotiations to sign criminal judicial cooperation agreements between Eurojust and eight third countries.
These are not agreements already signed, but rather the formal starting gun for negotiating them. But the direction is clear: more international coordination, more information sharing and greater capacity to investigate crimes that cross borders.
What does this regulation establish?
Eurojust is the EU agency responsible for coordinating national judicial authorities in the fight against cross-border organized crime. Until now, its capacity to act with countries outside the EU depended on previous bilateral agreements. This decision expands that map.
The eight countries with which negotiations are being opened are:
| Country | Region | Relevance for Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Bolivia | Latin America | Drug trafficking routes and money laundering |
| Canada | North America | Cooperation on organized crime and financial fraud |
| Chile | Latin America | Significant Spanish investment; transnational economic crimes |
| Costa Rica | Central America | Capital transit and offshore corporate structures |
| Ecuador | Latin America | Drug trafficking and organized crime |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | International financial center; money laundering |
| Panama | Central America | Corporate structures and money laundering; high exposure for Spanish companies |
| Peru | Latin America | Drug trafficking, illegal mining and corruption |
The agreements to be negotiated will allow for information exchange between Eurojust and the competent authorities of these countries, as well as coordination in active criminal investigations. This decision is a preliminary step: the final agreements will require subsequent approval by the EU Council.
Economic and operational impact
For most companies operating legally, this regulation does not generate direct costs or immediate obligations. However, it has relevant operational implications in three areas:
- Compliance and money laundering prevention: Greater international judicial coordination raises the effective compliance standard. Companies with subsidiaries, suppliers or customers in these 8 countries should review their due diligence processes.
- Reputational and legal risk: If a company is involved—even indirectly—in operations being investigated in any of these countries, Eurojust's strengthened cooperation can accelerate the extension of those investigations to European territory.
- Financial and investment sectors: Entities with exposure to the United Arab Emirates or Panama, historically flagged in money laundering cases, should anticipate greater scrutiny of their operations in those jurisdictions.
Who does it affect?
- Spanish judicial and prosecutorial authorities investigating crimes with ramifications in Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, UAE, Panama or Peru.
- Companies with subsidiaries or business partners in the 8 listed countries, especially in sectors with higher risk of economic crime (financial, real estate, logistics, energy).
- Law firms and legal advisors providing services to clients with transnational activity in these jurisdictions.
- Financial and investment entities with exposure to Latin American markets or financial centers such as Panama or the United Arab Emirates.
- Compliance departments and Chief Compliance Officers (CCO) of business groups with international presence.
Practical example
A Spanish logistics company operates with a partner in Panama to manage the transit of goods between Europe and Latin America. Currently, if Panamanian authorities detect signs of money laundering in that company, coordination with Eurojust is limited by the absence of a formal agreement.
Once the agreement between the EU and Panama is signed—as a result of the negotiations now authorized—Eurojust will be able to coordinate with Panamanian authorities the exchange of information about that investigation, facilitating the Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office to receive relevant data and act on the subsidiary or assets in European territory.
For the Spanish company, this means that an investigation initiated in Panama could have direct consequences in Spain more quickly and in a more coordinated manner than before.
What should companies do now?
- Map geographic exposure: Identify whether the company has subsidiaries, suppliers, customers or partners in any of the 8 countries (Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, UAE, Panama, Peru). If so, assess the level of criminal risk associated with those relationships.
- Review due diligence processes: Update know-your-customer (KYC) procedures and business partner procedures in these jurisdictions, anticipating an environment of greater judicial scrutiny.
- Consult the legal or compliance department: Especially if there are operations in Panama or UAE, jurisdictions historically associated with money laundering structures. Assess whether current controls are sufficient in the face of greater international judicial coordination.
- Follow the progress of negotiations: This decision opens negotiations, but the final agreements will require new approval from the EU Council. Monitor progress to anticipate when information exchange mechanisms will come into force.
- Train compliance teams: Ensure that compliance officers understand the implications of this expansion of Eurojust's scope and can translate them into internal protocols.
Frequently asked questions
What is Eurojust and what is its practical purpose?
Eurojust is the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation. Its function is to facilitate coordination between national judicial authorities of EU member states in the fight against cross-border organized crime. In practice, it allows prosecutors and judges from different EU countries to coordinate investigations, share information and avoid jurisdictional conflicts in cases affecting multiple countries simultaneously.
Are these agreements already in force with the 8 countries?
No. Council Decision (EU) 2026/2484, published on 4 November 2026, only authorizes the opening of negotiations with Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, United Arab Emirates, Panama and Peru. The final agreements must be negotiated and will require subsequent approval by the EU Council before coming into force.
What crimes does Eurojust investigate with these new agreements?
Cooperation agreements are primarily aimed at transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering and corruption. For Spain, the relevance is especially high with the Latin American countries included in the list, given the volume of economic connections and historical patterns of organized crime on those routes.
What does this mean for a Spanish company with operations in Panama or the Emirates?
Once the agreements are signed, Eurojust will be able to coordinate with the authorities of those countries the exchange of information in active criminal investigations. If a Spanish company has partners or subsidiaries in those jurisdictions involved in investigations, strengthened cooperation can accelerate the extension of those investigations to Spain. It is advisable to review due diligence processes and compliance controls in those operations.
When will the entry into force date of these agreements be known?
The decision published on 4 November 2026 does not specify the entry into force date of the agreements, as these must still be negotiated. Once negotiations are concluded, the texts must be approved by the EU Council. Only then will the effective application date be published. It is advisable to monitor the EU Official Journal to follow progress.
Official source
Consult full regulation in official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202602484
