The Third Additional Protocol updates a number of provisions of the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters of 1959 (ETS No. 30), as well as of its Second Additional Protocol (ETS No. 182), in order to take account of the rapid evolution of practices and support systems relating to mutual assistance in recent years, including an increased use of video-conferencing and other technological tools, notably in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It also complements provisions of the Convention and its Additional Protocols to take account of certain shortcomings identified by practitioners.