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Commission Implementation Report on Access to Lawyer Directive
On 27 September 2019, the European Commission published its implementation report on Directive 2013/48/EU on the right of access to a lawyer. The Directive is one of the six EU procedural rights directives that aim to harmonise safeguards of suspected or accused persons in criminal … Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
Procedural Safeguards
Regulation on Removal of Internet Content Promoting Terrorism – State of Play
On 24 September 2019, the European Parliament’s LIBE committee backed the position, as agreed by the plenary before May’s European elections, on the proposed Regulation seeking prevention of the dissemination of online content promoting terrorism (for the EP’s resolution of 17 April 2019, see … Read more
EU
Racism and Xenophobia
EP: Plans to Set up a Subcommittee on Tax and Financial Crime
In September 2019, the coordinators of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) in the European Parliament officially decided to create a permanent subcommittee on tax and financial crime. The initiative was mainly propelled by the Greens/EFL Group, which feels that the new subcommittee is … Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
Tax Evasion
Commission: Benefits of Administrative Cooperation in Direct Taxation Unclear
On 12 September 2019, the Commission presented its first evaluation report on Directive 2011/16/EU regarding administrative cooperation in the field of taxation. The Directive lays down rules and procedures for the cross-border exchange of tax information between the national tax administrations. The Directive has been … Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
Tax Evasion
Spotlight ESAs Concerned about ML/TF Monitoring and Reporting
On 4 October 2019, the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) published their second joint opinion on the risks of money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) affecting the European Union’s (EU) financial sector. The opinion is based on Art. 6(5) of Directive (EU) 2015/849, the … Read more
EU
Money Laundering
Protection of Financial Interests
MEPs Concerned about Member States’ Implementation of EU’s AML Legislation
On 19 September 2019, MEPs adopted a resolution on the state of implementation of the Union’s anti-money laundering legislation. MEPs expressed serious concerns about the lack of implementation of the 4th AML Directive by a large number of Member States and about the fact … Read more
EU
Money Laundering
Council Discusses Way Forward in Prevention of and Fight Against Corruption
At the JHA Council meeting in Luxembourg on 7 October 2019, the justice ministers of the EU Member States held a debate on EU action against corruption. Points of discussion were:Additional action at the EU level to ensure a coordinated, comprehensive and coherent … Read more
EU
Council
Corruption
Council Advances Legislation Against VAT Fraud in E-Commerce
On 8 November 2019, the ECOFIN Council reached a political agreement on future EU legislation that would make VAT-relevant data in e-commerce trade available to anti-fraud authorities. The new rules will oblige payment service providers to keep records of cross-border payments related to e-commerce. These … Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
Spotlight 30th Annual PIF Report
On 11 October 2019, the European Commission published its 2018 report on the protection of the European Union’s financial interests – fight against fraud. It is the 30th annual report, the first report having been published in January 1990. Hence, the 2018 report not … Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
Plans for Europol-New Zealand Operational Agreement
Together with its 20th progress report towards an effective and genuine Security Union, the European Commission addressed a recommendation to the Council to authorise the opening of negotiations for an EU-New Zealand agreement. The initiative aims to allow Europol and New Zealand law enforcement … Read more
Europol
Judicial Cooperation
Law Enforcement Cooperation
State of Play of EPPO Implementation
The Commission informed the justice ministers of the EU Member States on the state of play in implementation of the EPPO Regulation at the JHA Council meeting on 7 October 2019. European Prosecutors who were nominated by the participating Member States were heard by the … Read more
EU
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
Ms Kövesi Appointed European Chief Prosecutor
After the decision by the Conference of Presidents (EP President David Sassoli and political group leaders) on 17 October 2019, Ms Laura Codruţa Kövesi is the first European Chief Prosecutor. She can now start her seven-year mandate. The Council endorsed the nomination on 14 October … Read more
EU
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
Conference Highlights Need for Strong AFCOS in Candidate Countries
Governments must “give law enforcement and public administration the tools they need to detect and to prosecute fraudsters,” said OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä at the annual conference of Anti-Fraud Coordination Services (AFCOS) in reference to EU candidate and potential candidate countries. The conference was … Read more
EU
OLAF
Protection of Financial Interests
Spanish Supreme Court Backs OLAF’s Findings on Tuna Customs Fraud
On 6 August 2019, OLAF reported that the Spanish Supreme Court confirmed the findings of OLAF investigations on evaded customs duties with regard to tuna imports from El Salvador. OLAF had investigated allegations of irregularities in tuna exports from El Salvador into the European Union, … Read more
EU
OLAF
OLAF Report 2018
On 3 September 2019, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) released its annual report for 2018. The key figures for 2018 are:OLAF concluded 167 investigations;OLAF issued 256 recommendations to the relevant national and EU authorities;As a result of the investigations concluded in … Read more
EU
OLAF
ECA: Use of Information Systems for Border Control Can be More Efficient
The EU’s information systems in the field of internal security supporting border controls are well designed; however, more efforts are needed to ensure completeness and timely entry of the data. This is the main outcome of the European Court of Auditor’s special report No 20/2019 … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice