Speaking on 17 April 2007, Commission Vice-President Frattini said that Eurojust's success demonstrated that the "increasing phenomenon of cross-border organised crime, such as trafficking in arms, drugs and human beings, counterfeiting and child pornography can only be efficiently addressed at European level".
During Eurojust's first five years, the caseload increased from 192 cases in 2001 to 771 cases in 2006, indicating that judicial authorities from EU countries are more inclined to refer complex cross-border cases to Eurojust to facilitate and co-ordinate the process of bringing criminals to trial.
At present, the network of national prosecutors and judges, based in The Hague, assists member states to deal with serious cross-border crime. According to the Commission, cases often include trafficking in arms, drugs and human beings, counterfeiting and child pornography.
Frattini said that an upcoming Commission's Communication would suggest harmonisation of responsibilities of member states' representatives to Eurojust, as well as harmonising member states' powers to improve the quality of information that reaches The Hague.
At present, Eurojust depends largely on EU capitals' willingness to co-operate with each other. With its caseload expected to rise to 1,000 in 2007, Frattini also indicated that he wanted to explore member states' attitudes to having a European prosecutor, a figurehead with powers to initiate and proceed with the investigation of a case.
