Deputy Justice Minister of Ukraine in charge of issues involving European integration Serhiy Petukhov has said the cooperation agreement between Ukraine and the European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit (Eurojust) signed on September 2 has entered into force.

"This news that on September 2, 2017 Ukraine's agreement with Eurojust on combating crossborder crime and terrorism was not widely reported," Petukhov said on his Facebook page.

He said the cooperation would allow "much faster exchange of information between Ukrainian and EU law enforcement agencies on criminals who are hiding abroad through shared access to databases and shared investigative records."

The deputy minister said Eurojust is assisting with the joint investigation into the downed Boeing MH17 passenger airliner over Donbas [in July 2014].

"Eurojust also helped coordinate the return of 17 Italian paintings stolen from the Verona museum, which Ukrainian lawmakers found in Odesa. We are working more closely with the EU and increasing our security," he said.

The agreement on cooperation between Ukraine and Eurojust was signed in Brussels on June 27, 2016.

The purpose of the agreement is to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine and Eurojust in combating serious crimes, in particular organized crime and terrorism.

The document's entry into force will improve cooperation between Ukraine and Eurojust and will facilitate coordination of investigations conducted in the territory of Ukraine and EU member states.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on March 9, 2017 signed the law on ratifying the agreement.