Many recent scandals, such as Dieselgate, Luxleaks, the Panama Papers, and Cambridge Analytica, might never have come to light if “insiders” had not had the courage to speak up about wrongdoing occurring in their workplaces. These are only a few examples of how whistleblowers help detect, investigate, and remedy violations of law that can seriously damage the public interest and the welfare of our citizens and societies. Those who help uncover illegal activities should not have to suffer any personal or professional disadvantages or even be punished because of their actions. With its proposal of 23 April 2018 for a “Directive on the protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law”, the Commission sets out a much needed legal framework for robust protection of whistleblowers across the EU.

Almost a year has passed since the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). Activities aimed at setting up this new important European body are in full swing.
The creation of a strong, efficient, and independent EPPO, which will be able to rapidly carry out its investigative functions, represents a priority for the European Commission and, in particular, for the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), which I have the honour of directing since August 2018.
Setting up the EPPO is a complex task, which requires the contribution of many actors. The Commission has already put a number of steps in place, and many more are being prepared. The Commission is however not alone in this process: Member States participating in the EPPO are called on to ensure that the EPPO operates smoothly and effectively in their legal and judicial … Read more

Dear Readers, Since the launch of the project to establish a European Public Prosecutor’s Office, concerns have continuously been voiced over the standard of protection of fundamental rights in criminal proceedings. The criticism is directed at the European Union firmly moving towards a more efficient prosecution, but disregarding the need for strengthening the protection of fundamental rights in transnational criminal proceedings. It has been constant during the past decades, gaining momentum after implementation of the 2002 Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant (FD EAW). The Commission could no longer ignore the critical voices being raised by academics, human rights... Read more

Dear Readers, Efficient and proper spending of the Union’s budget is a key element in preserving the trust of EU citizens and in boosting the strength of the European project. Fraud and corruption must be fought vigorously and effectively. The ultimate goal is a high and equivalent level of protection of the EU’s budget throughout the entire territory of the EU. Important milestones that changed the institutional and legal landscape for the protection of the Union’s budget were reached in 2017. In July, the Directive on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law... Read more

Dear Readers, The year 2017 has brought and will hopefully lead to further major steps in the development of a true European Criminal Justice Area, particularly but not only with regard to the protection of the EU’s financial interests by criminal law. The adoption of the Directive on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law, the so-called ''PIF Directive,'' is a key achievement in putting an end to the largely outdated 22-year-old "PIF Convention." With its comprehensive catalogue of criminal offences, including fraud, corruption, money laundering, and misappropriation affecting the EU budget as... Read more

Dear Reader, As a practising lawyer specialised in the field of criminal law and criminal procedure who is also involved in international cases − and as an enthusiastic European − I feel that we need a new and strong commitment to “our” Europe in these anxious times. We need to strengthen the EU as a guarantor for peace, our common values, human and fundamental rights, and the rule of law in our common area of freedom, security and justice. Since the Amsterdam Treaty and the Tampere Council in 1999, the legal principle of mutual recognition of judicial decisions has been... Read more