News - eucrim

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EPPO: Path to Operation

8 December 2020

Cornelia Riehle LL.M. /

Thomas Wahl

On 28 September 2020, European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi and the other 22 European Prosecutors (Mr Frédéric Baab (FR), Mr Cătălin-Laurențiu Borcoman (RO), Mr Jaka Brezigar (SI), Mr Danilo Ceccarelli (IT), Mr Gatis Doniks (LV), Ms Yvonne Farrugia (MT), Ms Teodora Georgieva (BG), Ms Daniëlle … Read more

EU European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO)

OLAF Supports Successful International Operation in Seizure of Counterfeit Healthcare Products

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

On 17 September 2020, OLAF reported on a successful cooperation with its international partners, which led to the seizure of counterfeit healthcare and sanitary products in Columbia. OLAF alerted the Colombian police and customs authorities via AMERIPOL – the Police Community of the Americas … Read more

EU OLAF

Customs Operation Daphne Detects Huge Volume of Illicit Cash Flows

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

On 23 October 2020, OLAF reported on the results of the joint customs operation Daphne that tackled illicit cross-border cash flows. The one-week operation took place in late 2019. It was led by the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency and OLAF and involved 24 EU … Read more

EU OLAF

OLAF and Eurojust Help Dismantle Mafia-Like Gang

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

With the support of OLAF and Eurojust, the Italian Carbinieri managed a successful strike against an organised criminal gang that had established a sophisticated fraud scheme at the expense of EU funds. OLAF was able to prove that the group had committed fraud against EU … Read more

EU OLAF Eurojust

OLAF Investigations in Illegal Funding of Construction Works Lead to Indictments in Hungary

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

On 27 October 2020, OLAF reported that Hungarian public prosecutors had indicted four Hungarians for having pocketed more than €1.7 million in EU and Hungarian funding by illegally overpricing the costs for the renovation of children's playgrounds in Hungarian municipalities. An investigation, which was opened … Read more

EU OLAF

Successful Judicial Follow-Up of OLAF Operation

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

Three persons who siphoned off more than €1.4 million from the EU’s Research and Innovation fund have been sentenced to jail. They were convicted in Genoa/Italy at first instance as a judicial follow-up of OLAF’s operation “Paper Castle” (eucrim 1/2018, 8-9), OLAF reported on … Read more

EU OLAF

OLAF Activity Report 2019

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

In September 2020, OLAF published its activity report for 2019. In 2019, OLAF celebrated its 20th anniversary to commemorate its establishment in 1999. The report shows the wide range of OLAF’s operational activities, such as fraud affecting humanitarian aid, the environment, agricultural and regional … Read more

EU OLAF

Spotlight OLAF and Europol Cooperation on New Footing

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

OLAF and Europol agreed on a new working arrangement. The arrangement entered into force on 9 October 2020 and replaces the administrative agreement between the two bodies of 2004. The working arrangement lays the basis for the exchange of operational, tactical, strategic, and technical information, … Read more

EU OLAF Europol

Commission: Interim Report on Consultation of AI White Paper

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

The Commission issued a first summary report of its consultation on the White Paper on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the first half of 2020. For the White Paper à eucrim 1/2020, 8-9] . The consultation focused on three distinct aspects:Specific actions for the … Read more

EU Area of Freedom, Security and Justice Legislation

Studies on the Digitalisation of Justice

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

On 14 September 2020, the Commission published two studies on the digitalisation of justice. The studies support the Commission in identifying areas where there is a need for coordinated action at the EU level.The study on “cross-border digital criminal justice“ identified the needs … Read more

EU Area of Freedom, Security and Justice

Council Conclusions on Digitalisation in Relation to Access of Justice

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

On 13 October 2020, the Council adopted conclusions on digitalisation in order to improve access to justice. The conclusions observe that further digitalisation of the Member States’ judicial systems has enormous potential to continue to facilitate and improve access to justice for citizens throughout … Read more

EU Area of Freedom, Security and Justice

German Council Presidency Conclusion on Fundamental Rights and AI

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

On 21 October 2020, the German Council Presidency published presidency conclusions on the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the context of artificial intelligence and digital change. The EU should ensure that fundamental rights are always respected when using, developing, deploying or designing artificial intelligence … Read more

EU Area of Freedom, Security and Justice

CJEU Judgment on the Right to Judicial Review in Tax Cooperation

8 December 2020 (updated 5 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

On 6 October 2020, the CJEU delivered its judgment in Joined Cases C-245/19 (Luxembourg State v B) and C-246/19 (Luxembourg State v B and Others).The background of the preliminary ruling (brought by the Higher Administrative Court, Luxembourg) is a request … Read more

EU Fundamental Rights Protection of Financial Interests Tax Evasion Law Enforcement Cooperation

Romania: Rule-of-Law Events

8 December 2020 (updated 4 years, 10 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

Next to Poland and Hungary, Romania has become the subject of increased rule-of-law scrutiny by EU institutions. The main recent developments are:23 September 2020: Romania is likely to be defeated in the judicial reform dispute. Advocate General Bobek concludes that the interim appointment of … Read more

EU Fundamental Rights Rule of Law

Hungary: Update on Rule-of-Law Developments

8 December 2020 (updated 4 years, 10 months ago)

Thomas Wahl

The following continues the overview in recent eucrim issues regarding the clash between the EU and Hungary on maintenance of the rule of law (eucrim 2/2020, 69 and eucrim 1/2020, 4).12 August 2020: Following up their ad hoc analysis of 27 May … Read more

EU Fundamental Rights Rule of Law

Poland: Rule-of-Law Concerns Continue

8 December 2020 (updated 4 years, 8 months ago)

Thomas Wahl in Issue 3/2020

This news item continues the overview provided in previous eucrim issues (eucrim 2/2020, 68 and eucrim 1/2020, 2) on the struggle between the EU and Poland as regards maintenance of the rule of law.August 2020: The Civil Development Forum (FOR) publishes the … Read more

EU Fundamental Rights Rule of Law