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The Saudi Press Agency reported that Mazin Al-Kahmous, president of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority known as Nazaha, held talks with Michael Schmid, president of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, on August 27, 2026. The meeting took place at United Nations headquarters in Vienna and focused on strengthening joint efforts to support international anti-corruption initiatives while addressing serious cross-border corruption crimes. Both leaders examined practical avenues for closer collaboration, according to the agency, and discussed multiple topics of mutual interest that could advance global judicial coordination in this field.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the two sides reviewed major procedures undertaken by Nazaha in safeguarding integrity, advancing transparency and fighting corruption within Saudi institutions. The discussions also covered Eurojust’s contributions to investigations of transnational corruption offenses throughout Europe and in other regions. Such exchanges build on existing frameworks for international judicial assistance that have expanded in recent years to tackle increasingly sophisticated economic crimes.
Eurojust data for 2025 places the number of ongoing corruption cases supported by the agency at 222, including 82 newly registered matters that year. A Eurojust assessment found corruption functions as a central enabler for organised criminal networks that operate across multiple jurisdictions. The agency has responded by developing closer ties with non-EU partners through working arrangements and coordination mechanisms designed to speed up evidence sharing and joint probes.
Michael Schmid, who took office as Eurojust president in November 2024 after serving as Austria’s national member, has prioritised expanded cooperation with Middle Eastern and North African authorities. Eurojust publications detail how the number of operational meetings with prosecutors from the region reached 57 in 2025, with expectations of further growth through joint investigation teams. These partnerships have already facilitated actions against money laundering, fraud and related offenses that cross regional boundaries.
Nazaha, which operates as Saudi Arabia’s primary body for promoting public sector integrity, has engaged with various international counterparts to align standards on asset recovery and preventive measures. The Saudi Press Agency noted that the Vienna meeting allowed both organisations to share updates on their respective approaches to complex corruption files. Officials from each side expressed commitment to follow-up actions that could translate discussions into operational outcomes.
The encounter coincides with Eurojust’s broader push to scale up collaboration beyond the European Union, including recent forums that brought together prosecutors from the Middle East on organised crime and migrant smuggling. Eurojust figures show a rise in cases requiring third-state involvement, reflecting the global nature of modern corruption networks. Further meetings are anticipated as both Nazaha and Eurojust seek to formalise additional channels for information exchange and capacity building.
