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News found: 2314 of 2314
Commission Takes Stock of Security Union Progress
On 20 March 2019, the European Commission presented its 18th“progress report towards an effective and genuine Security Union.” Within the framework of this series (see also eucrim 3/2016, 123), this report especially takes stock of the progress made on the main building blocks of the … Read more
EU
Security Union
CCBE: Recommendations on Protection of Fundamental Rights in “National Security” Context
The concept of “national security” is often used in modern democratic societies to justify intrusive surveillance measures or other interference in an individual’s fundamental rights. A universally accepted definition of national security is lacking, however, which makes it difficult for courts to review state actions … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
European Citizens’ Initiative on Respect for the Rule of Law Admitted
On 3 April 2019, the Commission registered a European citizens’ initiative called “Respect for the rule of law within the European Union.”The European citizens’ initiative is a democratic participation tool by which citizens may influence EU policy. It was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty. … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
Commission Triggers Debate on Future EU Rule-of-Law Toolbox
On 3 April 2019, the Commission published a Communication entitled “Further strengthening the Rule of Law within the Union.” The Communication aims at triggering a reflection process on how the EU toolbox for defending and maintaining the fundamental value of the rule of law in … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
AG: Polish Supreme Court Reform is Against EU Law
Polish legislation lowering the retirement age of Supreme Court judgesviolates EU law, according to the opinion of Advocate General EvgeniTanchev. The opinion was released on 11 April 2019 and concerns one of three infringement procedures that have, in the meantime, been launched by the … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Commission Launches Another In-fringement Procedure Against Poland
The Commission has targeted another aspect of judicial reform in Poland. On 3 April 2019, the Commission launched a new infringement procedure against Poland. It addresses the recently introduced disciplinary regime for judges. The Commission believes that the disciplinary regime is contrary to the obligations … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Global Decline in Rule-of-Law Performance
“More countries declined than improved in overall rule of law performance for the second year in a row, continuing a negative slide toward weaker rule of law around the world.” This is one of the main findings of the annual worldwide rule of law index … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
Romania to be Placed Under Rule-of-Law Monitoring
After Poland and Hungary, Romania is likely to become the third EU country that may face the consequences of the EU’s Article 7 procedure (for this procedure, see eucrim 2/2018, p. 80 and the article by Cassese, eucrim 1/2018, p. 72). After the Romanian … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
Reports on Victims’ Rights
At the end of April 2019, FRA published a set of four reports on justice for victims of violent crimes. The set of reports deals with access to justicefrom four different perspectives:Victims’ rights as a standard of criminal justice;Justice in criminal proceedings; … Read more
EU
Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
First Operation Outside the EU
On 21 May 2019, Frontex launched its first full-fledged joint operation outside the European Union. This first operation in Albania aimed at supporting Albanian border guards with border control and at combating cross-border crime. For the operation, 50 officers from 12 EU Member States, … Read more
EU
Frontex
Patrol Cars Started Operating
At the end of May 2019, for the first time in its history, Frontex started to operate its own patrol cars in various field deployments at Europe’s borders.The patrol cars are a first step towards Frontex operating its own equipment rather than relying … Read more
EU
Frontex
Dark Web Marketplaces Taken Down
At the beginning of May 2019, two major dark web marketplaces, the “Wall Street Market” and the “Silkkitie” (known as the Valhalla Marketplace), were taken down in an international operation between Dutch, Finnish, French, German, and several US authorities together with the support of Europol … Read more
EU
Europol
Cybercrime
Malware Group Dismantled
In mid-May 2019, GozNym, a cybercriminal network offering cybercrime as a service was able to be dismantled through an international operation between Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Moldova, Ukraine, and the USA. Criminal services offered by GozNym included, for instance, bulletproof hosters, money mule networks, crypters, spammers, … Read more
EU
Europol
Cybercrime
Cryptocurrency Mixing Service Taken Down
On 22 May 2019, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency mixing services ‘Bestmixer.io’ was shut down in a joint action of the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) in cooperation with authorities in Luxembourg and at Europol.A cryptocurrency mixing service offers to mix … Read more
EU
Europol
Cybercrime
Results of Action Week Against Human Trafficking
From 8-14 April 2019, Europol ˗ together with 23 EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland ˗ conducted an action week against trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation. The action resulted in 46 arrests and the identification of 323 potential … Read more
EU
Europol
New National Member for Latvia
On 1 May 2019, Ms Dagmāra Skudratook up her position as National Member for Latvia at Eurojust. She previously held the position of Deputy to the National Member of Latvia at Eurojust from 2004-2013.Before joining Eurojust, Ms Skudra was Deputy Prosecutor General … Read more
EU
Eurojust