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Action against Illegal and Counterfeit Pesticides
The joint operation “Silver Axe IV” enabled authorities to seize 550 tons of illegal/counterfeit pesticides in 2019. The total amount of this seizure would cover a surface of up to 50,000 km² ‒ approximately equivalent to the territory of Estonia. The operation involved national police, … Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
OLAF
Operation “Postbox II”: First Customs-Led Cyber Patrol in Europe
OLAF reported on a significant strike against online criminals trafficking drugs, counterfeit goods, and endangered animal and plant species. Led by OLAF and the Belgian customs service, the operation codenamed “Postbox II” involved customs services from 22 Member States and Europol. It was the first … Read more
EU
OLAF
OLAF and German Prosecutor Trace Misuse of EU Research Money
With the support of OLAF, German authorities (spearheaded by the Mannheim’s prosecution service) seized huge amounts of documents and data which are to prove embezzlement and subsidy fraud allegedly committed by four persons between 51 and 56 years of age. They are alleged of having … Read more
EU
OLAF
Eurojust & OLAF Increase Cooperation
At a high-level meeting between OLAF and Eurojust on 11 July 2019, both bodies agreed to reinforce cooperation in tackling crimes against the EU budget. Read more
EU
OLAF
Eurojust
General Court: No Unlawful Conduct by OLAF vis-à-vis Former European Commissioner
On 6 June 2019, the General Court dismissed the action brought by former Maltese European Commissioner John Dalli in which he claimed compensation for non-material damage caused to him by alleged unlawful conduct against him by OLAF and the Commission (case T-399/17). Read more
EU
OLAF
European Council: Security Remains Priority Area in the Next Five Years
On 20 June 2019, the European Council of the European Union adopted a new strategic agenda for the next five years (2019-2024). Security – which had already been made one of the main priorities by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during his term of office – remains high on the agenda. The new agenda focuses on four main priorities. Read more
EU
Security Union
Council
Romanian Presidency: Overview of Legislative JHA Items
On 4 June 2019, the Romanian Council Presidency published an overview of the state of play of legislative proposals in the area of justice and home affairs. Read more
EU
Legislation
Group of Schengen States Discusses Challenges for External Land Border Management
Norway provided information on the joint statement by “the Ministerial Forum for Member States of the Schengen Area with External Land Borders.” The Forum met in Kirkenes, Norway on 20-22 May 2019. Read more
EU
Schengen
Future of EU Substantive Criminal Law
At their meeting on 6 June 2019, the Justice Ministers of the EU Member States debated about a report by the Romanian Council Presidency on the future of EU substantive criminal law. A questionnaire was designed to find out MS' views on the need to introduce additional harmonising criminal law provisions in new areas within the EU’s competence pursuant to Art. 83 TFEU Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Countering Hybrid Threats on Agenda of Finnish Council Presidency
Finland plans to increase awareness of hybrid threats and to reinforce the EU’s common response to them. At the informal meeting of the home affairs ministers of the EU Member States in Helsinki on 18 July 2019, the Finnish Presidency presented a fictious scenario involving hybrid threats and invited the ministers to hold a policy debate. Read more
EU
Security Union
Security Union: Progress Report on Countering Hybrid Threats
On 29 May 2019, the European Commission and the European External Action Service tabled a report on the EU’s progress in tackling hybrid threats. The EU response to hybrid threats is mainly based on 22 countermeasures, ranging from improving information exchange and strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure and cybersecurity to building resilience in the society against radicalisation and extremism. Read more
EU
Security Union
European Preventive Policing: Council Calls for Enhanced Use of Joint Patrols and Joint Operations
In its conclusions on “certain aspects of European preventive policing” of 6 June 2019, the JHA Council invites EU Member States “to make more efficient use of the existing legal framework at national and European level regarding the deployment of officers involved in joint patrols and other joint operations." Read more
EU
Security Union
Police Cooperation
Council Calls for New Knowledge-Sharing Platform to Support Law Enforcement
To better connect experts, tools, initiatives, and services in the area of digital data, Europol has been called on to develop a knowledge-sharing platform – the “Novel Actionable Information” (NAI). Read more
EU
Security Union
Europol
Law Enforcement Cooperation
Reflections on Future EU Internal Security
At its meeting on 7 June 2019, the home affairs ministers of the EU Member States began discussing the future of EU policy in the area of internal security, especially law enforcement cooperation. The ministers concurred on the following fields of action:Effectively implementating … Read more
EU
Security Union
19th Progress Report on Security Union
On 24 July 2019, the European Commission presented its 19th “progress report towards an effective and genuine Security Union.” It focuses, in particular, on the following: the need for the Union’s co-legislators to deliver on pending legislative proposals; enhancement of digital infrastructure security in connection with the fifth generation (5G) networks; analysis of the current risks and vulnerabilities of the EU’s anti-money laundering framework... Read more
EU
Security Union
Commission: Rule-of-Law-Related Infringement Actions Against Hungary
On 25 July 2019, the Commission decided to launch an action before the CJEU against Hungary for not fulfilling its obligations under EU law, because Hungary has not changed its so-called “Stop Soros” legislation. The law criminalises activities in support of asylum applications and further restricts the right to request asylum. Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law