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Spotlight Third Additional Protocol to 1959 MLA Convention
At the Minister of Justice Conference, held in Valletta, Malta, on 19 September 2025, the Council of Europe opened for signature a new additional protocol to the 1959 Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. The briefly dubbed "Valletta Protocol" aims to reinforce the ability of CoE member states, as well as partner states, to adequately respond to crime. Read more
Thomas Wahl
Council of Europe
Judicial Cooperation
Justice Ministers from CoE Member States Commit to Improving Cooperation in Cross-Border Crime
At a meeting held in Valletta, Malta, on 19 September 2025, the justice ministers from the Council of Europe member states adopted a declaration designed to foster cooperation in the fight against transnational crime. Read more
Council of Europe
Organised Crime
Judicial Cooperation
Spotlight ECJ Clarifies Principle Lex Posterior Mitius
In its judgment in BAJI Trans of 1 August 2025, the ECJ provided important clarifications on the scope and application of the principle that the more lenient law should apply in criminal cases. This so-called principle lex posterior mitius is enshrined in the last sentence of Art. 49(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
Anniversary of CoE's AI Convention
On 5 September 2025, the Council of Europe celebrated the first anniversary of the opening for signature of its Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence at a conference in Madrid, Spain. The Council of Europe’s Committee on artificial intelligence (CAI) and the Complutense University of Madrid jointly organised the conference. Academic experts and members of the CAI Bureau shared theoretical and methodological insights on the convention’s key themes. Read more
Council of Europe
Commission Proposal on Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034
On 16 July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the multiannual financial framework from 2028 to 2034. It sets out sets spending limits for multi-year periods in order to ensure long-term planning security and budgetary discipline beyond the EU's annual budgets. This news item sets out the main features of the proposal and summarises the debate in the run-up of the proposal. Read more
EU
Commission
Protection of Financial Interests
Spotlight 36th Annual PIF Report
On 25 July 2025, the European Commission released the 36th Annual Report on the protection of the European Union’s financial interests and the fight against fraud – 2024. A focus of this year's report is on the digitalisation of the fight against fraud. Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
Spotlight Anti-fraud Architecture Review Launched
On 16 July 2025, the European Commission published a White Paper that launches the review of the EU's anti-fraud architecture (AFA). It sets out preliminary orientations and several key questions that are designed to initiate a broader reflection on the future AFA. This includes improvements of detecting EU fraud and better investigation/prosecution capabilities. Read more
EU
OLAF
Europol
Eurojust
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
Protection of Financial Interests
Annual Tobacco Conference in Helsinki
From 16-18 September 2025, representatives from customs authorities and other stakeholders met in Helsinki for the 28th edition of the Tobacco Conference. Organised by OLAF in cooperation with the Finnish Customs, over 100 participants discussed persistent and evolving challenges in relation to tobacco smuggling … Read more
EU
OLAF
Counterfeiting & Piracy
Protection of Financial Interests
The OLAF Report 2024
On 16 June 2025, OLAF presented its annual activity report. In 2024, OLAF recommended the recovery of €871.5 million to the EU budget and prevented €43.5 million from being unduly spent from the EU budget. The Office concluded 246 cases and issued 301 recommendations for follow-up to the relevant national and EU authorities. Read more
EU
OLAF
Protection of Financial Interests
Commission Roadmap on Access to Data for Law Enforcement Purposes
On 24 June 2025, the European Commission presented a Communication that sets out the "Roadmap for lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement". It provides for key actions in six key areas, including data retention, lawful interception and AI solutions for law enforcement. Read more
EU
Digital Space Regulation
Commission
Europol
Eurojust
Law Enforcement Cooperation
GRECO: Fifth Round Evaluation Report on Liechtenstein
On 27 May 2025, GRECO published its 5th Round Evaluation Report on Liechtenstein. The report evaluates the effectiveness of the measures adopted by the authorities of Liechtenstein to prevent corruption and promote integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies. Read more
Council of Europe
Corruption
New National Eurojust Member for Hungary
At the end of August 2025, Dr. Anikó Orosz started her term at Eurojust as the new National Member for Hungary. In her longstandig career as public prosecutor, Ms Orosz served at a Budapest District Prosecution Office, at the Chief Prosecution Office of the … Read more
Cornelia Riehle LL.M.
EU
Eurojust
OLAF-EPPO Operational Cooperation January-July 2025
This news item summarises cases in which the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) reported on their cooperation. It covers the first seven months of 2025. The overview aims at giving an impression on how OLAF complements EPPO's investigations and on how the two bodies collaborate to protect the EU's financial interests. Read more
EU
OLAF
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
Protection of Financial Interests
OLAF's Operational Work January-July 2025
This news item highlights key cases that demonstrate OLAF's operational work in the first seven months of 2025. It follows reports on operations supported by OLAF in the second half of 2024 (→eucrim 4/2024, 275-276). Read more
EU
OLAF
Protection of Financial Interests
End of Mandate of OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä
The seven-year term of office for OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä ended on 31 July 2025. He looks back to a successful mandate involving major challenges in protecting the EU's financial interests, such as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war of aggression to Ukraine. Read more
EU
OLAF
Spotlight Evaluation on Eurojust Published
On 2 July 2025, the European Commission published a report evaluating the 2018 Eurojust Regulation. Drawn upon an external support study, the report assesses the implementation and impact of the Eurojust Regulation as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of Eurojust and its working practices (from 12 December 2019 to 1 May 2024). Read more
EU
Eurojust