News
News found: 2482 of 2482
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
Thomas Wahl
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
US CLOUD Act: EU Wants Executive Agreement with the U.S.
The EU and the U.S. agreed that the U.S. will negotiate one "executive agreement" with the EU in the framework of the US CLOUD Act. The Commission and the Council are preparing the mandate in order to start the negotiations. Read more
EU
Law Enforcement Cooperation
Civil Society Organisations Voice Concerns over Council Plans on E-Evidence
Eighteen civil society organisations urged Member States to seriously reconsider its draft position on law enforcement access to “e-evidence” on the eve of the vote on the general approach in the Council. Read more
EU
Law Enforcement Cooperation
Council Pushes for E-Evidence Law, EP Applies the Brakes
On 7 December 2018, under the Austrian Presidency, the JHA Council agreed on its position on a proposal for a regulation on European production and preservation orders for e-evidence in criminal matters. Meanwhile, the European Parliament dampened expectations that it will finalise the legislation by the end of the parliamentary term in May 2019. Read more
EU
e-Evidence
Law Enforcement Cooperation
CJEU: Consequences of Failure to Refer to Additional Sentence in EAW
On 6 December 2018, the CJEU delivered its judgment in Case C-551/18 PPU, which concerns the execution of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued against IK. The judgment mainly concerns the interpretation of Art. 8 FD EAW (entitled “content and form of an EAW”), but also Art. 15 (communication of supplementary information) and Art. 27 (rule on speciality). Read more
EU
European Arrest Warrant