The training, organised by the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors of Northern Macedonia and the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), focused on European principles and standards concerning the collection and preservation of evidence in a digital online context and on (counter) intelligence as evidence in courts.

Mr Zalar presented, among other things, the aim and key issues addressed by the draft ELI proposal for an EU directive on mutual admissibility of evidence and e-evidence in criminal proceedings, which is being developed in the framework of the above ELI project.

He stressed the importance of defining principles, rules and minimum standards on admissibility of evidence and e-evidence to prevent an automatic, blind application of mutual recognition of any evidence as well as to harmonise this challenging area of criminal law within the EU legal space. He invited participants of the training to follow ELI’s work further and informed them that the final output of the project will be available on the ELI website once adopted by ELI bodies.