L 348/130 Official Journal of the European Union 24.12.2008 (Acts adopted under the EU Treaty) ACTS ADOPTED UNDER TITLE VI OF THE EU TREATY COUNCIL DECISION 2008/976/}HA of 16 December 2008 on the European Judicial Network THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 31 and 34(2)(c) thereof, Having regard to the initiative of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ('), Whereas: (1) By Joint Action 98/428/JHA (3), the Council set up the European Judicial Network which has demonstrated its usefulness in the facilitation of judicial cooperation in criminal matters. (2)  In accordance with Article 6 of the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union (}), mutual legal assistance takes place through direct contacts between competent judicial authorities. This decentralisation of mutual legal assistance is now widely implemented. (") Opinion delivered on 2 September 2008 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (®) OJ L 191, 7.7.1998, p. 4. () O] C 197, 12.7.2000, p. 3. (3)  The principle of mutual recognition of judicial decisions in criminal matters is being implemented gradually. It not only confirms the principle of direct contacts between competent judicial authorities, it also accelerates the procedures and makes them entirely judicial. (4)  The impact of these changes on judicial cooperation was further increased by the enlargement of the European Union in 2004 and 2007. Because of this evolution, the European Judicial Network is even more necessary than at the time of its creation and should therefore be strengthened. (5) By Decision 2002/187[JHA (¥, the Council set up Eurojust to improve coordination and cooperation between competent authorities of the Member States. Decision 2002/187[JHA provides that Eurojust is to maintain privileged relations with the European Judicial Network based on consultation and complementarity. (6)  Five years of coexistence of Eurojust and the European Judicial Network have demonstrated both the need to maintain the two structures and the need to clarify their relationship. (7)  Nothing in this Decision should be construed to affect the independence that contact points may have under national law. (8) It is necessary to strengthen judicial cooperation between the Member States and to allow contact points of the European Judicial Network and Eurojust for this purpose to communicate, whenever needed, directly and more efficiently ~ through a secure telecommunications connection. (9)  Joint Action 98/428/JHA should therefore be repealed and replaced by this Decision, () O] L 63, 6.3.2002, p. 1.