On 1 September 2016, Hilde Stoltenberg was appointed Liaison Prosecutor for Norway to Eurojust, in accordance with Article 5 of the Agreement between the Kingdom of Norway and Eurojust of April 2005. Ms Stoltenberg, who replaces the outgoing Liaison Prosecutor for Norway, Petter Sodal, began her career as a prosecutor with the Bodø, Nordland, police in 1997. Prior to joining Eurojust, she was an Assistant Professor at the Norwegian Police Academy and Regional Public Prosecutor for Nordland, a post she held until 2015. A graduate of the University of Tromsø (1990 – 1997) and the University of Nordland (2010-2013), Ms Stoltenberg has a great deal of experience in prosecuting cases involving international drug-trafficking, the sexual abuse of children and cybercrime. In her first week at Eurojust, Ms Stoltenberg already participated in the annual consultation at Eurojust with the Norwegian Director of Public Prosecutions, Tor-Aksel Busch, hosted by the President of Eurojust, Michèle Coninsx. These annual consultations are used to expand on the cooperation built between Eurojust and Norway, to better work together against crimes affecting Norway and the European Union. Following her appointment, Ms Stoltenberg said: ‘My previous experience with Eurojust, involving the successful prosecution of an international murder investigation involving two Member States, Norway and another third State, highlights the benefits of the judicial cooperation fostered between the Kingdom of Norway and Eurojust. Through Eurojust, Norway and the European Union will continue to cooperate to effectively combat our common criminal threats.’

Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, concerning referral from the Gabonese Republic On 21 September 2016, I received a referral from the Government of the Gabonese Republic regarding the situation in Gabon since May 2016 with no end-date. In reference to article 14 of the Rome Statute, Rule 45 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and Regulation 25(1)(b) of the Regulations of the Office of the Prosecutor, the Government of the Gabonese Republic requests the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”) “to open an investigation without delay”. In accordance with the requirement of the Rome Statute my Office will be conducting a preliminary examination in order to establish whether the criteria for opening an investigation are met. A preliminary examination is not an investigation but a process of examining the information available in order to reach a fully informed determination on whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation pursuant to the criteria established by the Rome Statute. Specifically, under article 53(1) of the Rome Statute, as Prosecutor, I must consider issues of jurisdiction, admissibility and the interests of justice in making this determination.  The Office gives due consideration to all submissions and views conveyed to it during the course of a preliminary examination, strictly guided by the requirements of the Rome Statute and in the independent and impartial exercise of its mandate. My Office will examine information regarding crimes allegedly committed by any groups or individuals involved in the situation. Where a referral is accompanied by supporting documentation that identifies potential perpetrators, my Office is not bound or constrained by the information contained therein when conducting investigations in order to determine whether specific persons should be charged. After careful analysis of all available information, I shall make a determination that will be made public in due course. The Gabonese Republic is a State Party to the Rome Statute, and as such, the ICC has jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed on the territory or by nationals of Gabon since 1 July 2002, the date when the Statute entered into force in Gabon.