EL PACCTO 2.0

EL PACCTO 2.0 aims to help strengthen institutions and policies in the field of justice and security in Latin America and the Caribbean, by promoting an effective partnership with the European Union.

By taking action throughout the criminal chain and working with all the national and regional institutions responsible for justice and security, the programme is contributing to the fight against transnational organised crime by strengthening the rule of law and security of citizens.

The activities implemented under the project will build on the achievements of the previous phase, with the collaboration of all the regional actors and by including the Caribbean in its framework for action for the first time.

EL PACCTO 2.0 focuses on:

1. High-level strategic dialogues, with a regional and bi-regional perspective.
2. Capacity building through institutional strengthening and specialisation.
3. Operational cooperation against organised crime organisations.

The first operations during the first months of its implementation involved: reactivating the institutional focal points, establishing contacts with the Caribbean region, reactivating the previous lines of action, networks and policy dialogues, and strengthening coordination with other projects and initiatives. The second phase of the program also introduces new areas of focus, including bi-regional dialogues, artificial intelligence, high-risk criminal networks, and strategic partnerships.

The EL PACCTO 2.0 programme is a core component of the development of a partnership between the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean in the field of justice and security, in accordance with the mandates approved at the last EU-CELAC summit in 2023, by supporting:

• The new agenda to strengthen the EU’s partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean;
• The Team Europe initiative in the fields of justice and security with Latin America and the Caribbean;
• The EU Strategy to Tackle Organised Crime 2021-2022.

1. Strengthen collaboration between regional and national institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean in the field of justice and security, and increase opportunities for strategic dialogue and cooperation with the EU in the field of justice and security.

• Promoting a bi-regional dialogue on common justice and security policies to tackle transnational organised crime
• Developing regional collaboration with the main initiatives and stakeholders (AMERIPOL, CLASI, shared policy cycles on justice)

2. Capacity building for justice and security institutions for the fight against organised crime, applying a gender-responsive approach, respecting human rights, and involving civil society.

• Supporting institutional strengthening and specialisation
• Promoting international cooperation and the development of common procedural standards
• Improving regulatory and operational frameworks for asset recovery and the fight against corruption and money laundering related to organised crime
• Strengthening human rights standards and the gender-responsive approach in the justice and security agenda  

3. Develop operational capabilities and coordination between actors in justice and security to investigate and prosecute in the main areas of activity of organised crime.

• Combating drug trafficking, arms trafficking, trafficking in cultural property, environmental crime, cybercrime, and human trafficking
• Multi-regional operational cooperation with the participation of European, Latin American and Caribbean actors and networks, including EUROJUST and EUROPOL