Joint Investigation Teams: Within the EU the setting up JITs between Member States is provided for in Article 13 of the 2000 MLA Convention and the 13 June 2002 Framework Decision (2002/465/JHA).
Art 1 refers to: ‘difficult and demanding investigations’ and ‘circumstances of the case necessitate coordinated, concerted action in the Member States involved’. A joint investigation team (JIT) is a team consisting of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement authorities, established for a fixed period and a specific purpose by way of a written agreement between the States involved to carry out criminal investigations in one or more of the involved States. Team members carry out their duties in accordance with the national laws of the territory in which the investigation takes place. JITs enable the direct gathering and exchange of information and evidence without the need to use traditional channels of mutual legal assistance (MLA)