News
News found: 2070 of 2070
DAV: Commission’s Plans to Remove Terrorist Content Online May Infringe Freedom of Expression
In January 2019, the German Bar Association (Deutscher Anwaltverein ˗ DAV) tabled a critical statement on the Commission’s proposal for a regulation on preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online (for the proposal, see eucrim 2/2018, pp. 97-98 and G. Robinson, eucrim 4/2018, pp. 234-240 … Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
Racism and Xenophobia
New Infringements Proceedings for Incorrect Transposition of 4th AML Directive
In January 2019, the Commission launched and went ahead with further infringement proceedings against EU Member States for not having correctly transposed the fourth Anti-Money-Laundering Directive. The infringement proceedings are in different stages. They concern Germany, Belgium, Finland, France, Lithuania, Portugal, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland, and … Read more
EU
Money Laundering
Council Opposes Commission’s AML Blacklisting of Third Countries
At the meeting of 7 March 2019, the JHA Council unanimously rejected a list of 23 “high-risk third countries”in the area of money laundering and terrorist financing. The list was put forward by the Commissionon 13 February 2019. The list aims to protect … Read more
EU
Money Laundering
EP Generally Supports Link Between Non-Respect of Rule of Law and Loss of EU Money
On 19 January 2019, the European Parliament adopted its position on the regulation on the protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States. In essence, the EP backs the Commission’s idea in its … Read more
EU
Rule of Law
Protection of Financial Interests
ECA: Action Needed in the EU’s Fight against Fraud
In a special report of 10 January 2019,the European Court of Auditors (ECA) details weaknesses in the Commission’s fight against fraud in EU spending. According to the report, OLAF’s administrative investigations resulted in recovery of less than a third of unduly paid funds. Furthermore, … Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
International Operation Against Fake Shampoo
On 18 February 2019, OLAF reported on a successful international operation which culminated in the search and seizure of 400 tons of counterfeit shampoo with an estimated retail value of €5 million. The fake haircare products stem from China and were shipped to Latin America … Read more
EU
OLAF
Counterfeiting & Piracy
Record Number of Legal Practitioner Trainings in 2017
In 2017, over 180,000 legal practitioners (judges, prosecutors, court staff, lawyers, bailiffs, and notaries) took part in training activities on EU law or the law of another Member State. With this record number since reporting on European judicial training began in 2011, the EU already … Read more
EU
Legislation
Roadmap Proposed for New Decision-Making Procedure in EU Tax Policy
On 15 January 2019, the European Commission kicked off a policy debate on reforming the EU’s decision-making in taxation. This area is currently subject to a special legislative procedure, the Council being the sole legislator and deciding by unanimity. The European Parliament is consulted … Read more
EU
Legislation
Current Legislative JHA Proposals
In view of the JHA Council meeting on 7-8 March 2019, the Romanian Council Presidency gave an overview of the current state of play of justice and home affairs legislative items. Criminal law-related items include, for instance:Legislative package on the interoperability of EU … Read more
EU
Legislation
Brexit: UK Government Prepares No Deal Scenario
The British government has tabled “Regulations” that contain legislative amendments and regulatory measures in the area of security, law enforcement, and criminal justice. They “will provide legal and operational certainty.” by ensuring that the UK’s statute book continues to function effectively should the UK leave the EU without an agreement end of March 2019. Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Endangered Lawyers – Hearing at the EP
On 19 February 2019, the EP’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) held a hearing on “attacks on the legal profession and lawyers defending human rights.” The persecution of lawyers has intensified worldwide. Lawyers defending human rights and representatives of NGOs reported that the professional activity of lawyers is increasingly subject to difficult conditions, e.g., abusive infringements of professional secrecy or surveillance of client conversations. Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
New Special Representative for Human Rights
On 28 February 2019, the Council appointed Eamon Gilmore as EU Special Representative for Human Rights. Read more
EU
European Commission for the efficiency of justice (CEPEJ)
No Progress in Art. 7 TEU Procedure Against Poland and Hungary
At its meeting of 19 Feburary 2019, the General Affairs Council dealt with the Article 7 TEU procedure concerning Poland and Hungary. Statements of Member States on the rule-of-law situation in these two countries were cautious. Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
EP: Strengthening Potential of Charter
The European Union must take resolute steps to strengthen its own efforts to guarantee the enjoyment of all rights of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, including social rights. This is one of the main requests in an EP resolution of 12 February 2019 “on the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in the EU institutional framework.” The non-legislative resolution was adopted by 349 to 157 votes (with 170 abstentions). Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
EP: Step up Efforts to Effective Protection of Rule of Law and European Values
On 16 January 2019, the European Parliament called on all relevant actors at the EU and national levels − including governments, parliaments, and the judiciary − to step up efforts to uphold and reinforce the rule of law. Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
Report
The European Crime Prevention Network: Preventing Individual Fraud in the EU
A Report on a New Toolbox
This report summarises the main findings on the phenomenon of individual fraud in the EU. It includes best practices for counteractions, and recommended prevention measures. Prevention of individual fraud was a focal topic of the Bulgarian Council Presidency in 2018 The report relates to the 13th toolbox of the European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN). The EUCPN was set up by the Council of the European Union in 2001. It is the first point of contact for crime prevention in the EU. Read more
Jorne Vanhee