Lord Advocate, Elish Angiolini QC, will sign a Convention to establish an EU Network of Prosecutors. The Convention is intended to establish a network to promote better understanding and closer cooperation between prosecutors across Europe.

Angiolini is attending a conference of Chief Public Prosecutors in Paris with prosecutors from throughout the European Union at the Cour de Cassation in Paris.

"Although we have many different legal systems in Europe, they are founded on the same principles of liberty, democracy, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms," she said.

"As Chief Public Prosecutors, we must seek to uphold the rule of law and help create stronger communities for people to live in. Crime is increasingly international in character and justice systems across Europe must work together effectively, across national boundaries, in order to ensure that evidence and intelligence is shared and criminals are brought to justice.

"We are rightly proud of our legal system in this country, but we must always be willing to learn from developments across Europe in order that our communities can have confidence that they have the best possible prosecution service."