Mr Filippo Spiezia, photography by Eurojust.
Yesterday, the College of Eurojust elected Mr Filippo Spiezia, National Member for Italy, as its new Vice-President for a three-year term. According to Article 28(2) of the Council Decision on Eurojust and Article 3(1) of the Rules of Procedure of Eurojust, the result of the election will be submitted to the Council for its approval. Mr Spiezia replaces former Eurojust Vice-President Ladislav Hamran, who was elected President in October.
Mr Spiezia, a public prosecutor for 28 years, started his professional career as a magistrate in 1990, and served as an anti-mafia public prosecutor since 2003. He has been responsible for investigations of organised crime, money laundering, THB, corruption, drug trafficking, fraud and cybercrime, first in Italy, and then as Deputy National Member for Italy at Eurojust between 2008 and 2012, at which time he became Deputy National Prosecutor at the National Anti-mafia and Anti-terrorism Directorate in Rome, dealing with international judicial cooperation and coordinating investigations of organised crime and terrorism. He returned to Eurojust as National Member in January 2016.
The author of many publications on legal issues, Mr Spiezia also trained judges, lectured and chaired working groups and teams dealing with analysis of criminal, legislative and strategic matters with the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the UNODC. In 2003, he was awarded the Falcone and Borsellino prize for his book, The trafficking and exploitation of human beings.
After his election, Mr Spiezia said: ‘I am deeply honoured by this vote of confidence from my colleagues at Eurojust. I am inspired by the sense of honest and open collaboration shown by the new President, the College of Eurojust and the Administrative Director. I fully believe that a spirit of collegiality, coupled with experience, skill and enthusiasm, are the keys for Eurojust to fulfil its mission to support judicial authorities in their fight against serious organised crime and terrorism.
