Effective international cooperation is essential to investigating transnational crime, combating corruption and recovering assets linked to illicit activities. Yet, differences in national legal systems, procedural requirements and institutional frameworks can create significant challenges for authorities seeking assistance across borders.

To help overcome these obstacles, UNICRI has developed a series of Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Guides covering ten European countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Malta, Spain and Switzerland. Each guide provides country-specific information on applicable legislation, competent authorities and the practical steps involved in preparing and submitting MLA requests. Available in Arabic, English and French, the publications offer practitioners accessible resources to navigate national procedures and facilitate judicial cooperation.

This publication series was developed by UNICRI with the financial support of the European Union, through the Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA), under the project Transparency Now: Strengthening Anti-Corruption Efforts in the EU Southern Neighbourhood. UNICRI expresses its sincere gratitude to the European Union, the Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network (CARIN) Secretariat and the relevant national institutions in the ten MLA focus countries, for their valuable support and guidance throughout the development of these guides.  The series aims to strengthen international cooperation in criminal investigations, particularly those involving corruption, financial crime and the tracing, freezing, confiscation and recovery of illicit assets.

From legal frameworks to practical implementation

Each guide provides an overview of the legal and procedural requirements applicable in the country concerned, helping practitioners from the project’s beneficiary countries navigate the different stages of the mutual legal assistance process.

The guides cover key aspects, including:

• Legal frameworks: applicable international conventions, bilateral agreements and domestic legislation governing mutual legal assistance.

• Formal and procedural requirements: competent authorities, transmission channels, language requirements and supporting documentation.

• Preparation of requests: essential information, legal grounds and evidence needed to formulate clear, complete and actionable requests.

• Execution of requests: national procedures for gathering evidence, conducting investigative measures and enforcing foreign judicial orders.

• Asset recovery: procedures and safeguards relating to the identification, freezing, confiscation and return of criminal assets.

• Practical tools: checklists, useful contacts and guidance to support practitioners throughout the process.

The guides also emphasize the importance of early coordination and informal consultation between competent authorities to clarify requirements, address potential procedural obstacles and improve the effectiveness of formal requests.

Strengthening cooperation across jurisdictions

The guides are intended primarily for practitioners seeking assistance from foreign jurisdictions and serve as practical reference tools rather than standardized request templates. By making country-specific procedures more accessible, they aim to reduce avoidable delays, improve the quality of mutual legal assistance requests and support more effective international cooperation.

Ultimately, the series contributes to broader efforts to strengthen accountability, combat corruption and facilitate the recovery of assets derived from criminal activities.

Explore the Mutual Legal Assistance Guides

This publication series was developed by UNICRI with financial support from the European Union, through the Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA), under the project Transparency Now: Strengthening Anti-Corruption Efforts in the EU Southern Neighbourhood.

Download the guides in Arabic, English and French below.