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Two ECA Reports Assess Rule-of-Law Efforts to Protect the EU Budget
In February 2024, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) published two reports that examine the Commission's steps designed to ensure that EU money is properly spent to Member States if they comply with the EU's rule of law values.ECA report on Conditionality RegulationSpecial … Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
Rule of Law
Protection of Financial Interests
First Liaison Officer for Iceland
On 12 March 2024, Ms Kolbrún Benediktsdóttir took up her duties as Iceland's first Liaison Prosecutor for Eurojust. Prior to accepting this position, Ms Benediktsdóttir worked as Deputy District Prosecutor in Iceland and taught at the Faculty of Law of the University of Iceland. … Read more
Cornelia Riehle LL.M.
EU
Eurojust
EPPO Requests Budget Increase
In mid-February 2024, the College of the EPPO sent an urgent request to the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, and the European Commission to increase the 2024 budget of the Office from €7.8 million to €79.7 million. The request was motivated by the … Read more
EU
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
Commission’s Report on Fourth AML Directive
On 11 March 2024, the European Commission published a report assessing the implementation of Directive 2015/849 – the fourth anti-money laundering Directive (AMLD 4). This assessment was required by Art. 65 of the Directive and takes into account the amendments made by Directive 2018/843 (the … Read more
EU
Money Laundering
Transfer of Criminal Proceedings: Political Agreement and ECBA Opinion
On 1 March 2024, the European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA) released an opinion on the proposal for a Regulation on the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters. The Commission initiated the legislation in April 2023 (→ eucrim 1/2023, 40). It aims to establish an … Read more
EU
Judicial Cooperation
Updated Non-Cooperative Tax Jurisdictions List
On 20 February 2024, the Council removed the Bahamas, Belize, the Seychelles, and Turks and Caicos Islands from its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. The removal of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands from the list was influenced by the OECD Forum … Read more
Dr. Anna Pingen
EU
Council
Tax Evasion
Mid-term Evaluation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility
On 21 February 2024, the European Commission presented the mid-term evaluation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of the NextGenerationEU coronavirus recovery plan. At the beginning of April, the European Court of Auditors pointed to several challenges of this special fund painting … Read more
EU
Commission
Protection of Financial Interests
Parliament's Call for Action on Erosion of EU Values
On 28 February 2024, the European Parliament expressed significant concerns over the erosion of democratic principles, the rule of law, and fundamental rights across several EU Member States. In its resolution on the European Commission’s 2023 Rule of Law report, the Parliament highlighted both progress … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
European Parliament
Heroin and other Opioids Flood EU Drug Market
The threat posed by heroin and other opioids to the EU are analysed in a report published by Europol and the EMCDDA on 24 January 2024. According to the report, opioid use remains a major part of the drug problem in Europe. While heroin is … Read more
EU
Europol
Organised Crime
Enhancing Schengen Security: Commission's Recommendation
On 17 January 2024, Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/268 on cooperation between the Member States with regard to serious threats to internal security and public policy in the area without internal border controls was published in the Official Journal (2024/268). The recommendation advocates for a collaborative … Read more
EU
Schengen
Commission
Law Enforcement Cooperation
Bulgaria and Romania Join Schengen Area
On 30 December 2023, the Council reached a unanimous decision with Bulgaria and Romania to eliminate air and maritime internal border controls as of 31 March 2024, marking their partial integration into the Schengen area. Read more
EU
Schengen
Threats to Key Freedoms: New EP Report on Situation of Fundamental Rights in the EU
The EP's annual fundamental rights report for 2022-2023 finds threats to key freedoms and EU values, notably media freedom, corruption and individual liberties. Specific recommendations were made for Hungary, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, and Spain. Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
European Parliament
Racism and Xenophobia
Deal on EU Budget Increase
In February 2024, the European Parliament and the Council gave green light to three legislative acts that reinforce the EU long-term budget and provide additional funding in order to react to new challenges, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine. The acts include a regulation amending … Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
Spotlight Generative AI and Copyright Law
Eurojust's report on "Generative Artificial Intelligence - The impact on intellectual property crimes" looks at how criminals utilise generative AI to violate various intellectual property rights. It gives insights into modi operandi, examines ongoing cases and outlines attempts to regulate the use of generative AI in the field of intellectual property. Read more
EU
Eurojust
Counterfeiting & Piracy
2024 Evaluation of Frontex Regulation
On 2 February 2024, the Commission adopted the evaluation of Regulation (EU)2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard. It assessed the impact, effectiveness, and efficiency of Frontex together with an Action Plan to support its implementation.Overall, the evaluation concludes that Frontex has significantly … Read more
Frontex
First-Time Eurojust Support for EPPO Investigation
On 29 February 2024, Eurojust reported that, for the first time, the Agency supported an investigation led by the EPPO against a large-scale cross-border missing trader intra-community fraud. The scheme involved trade in electronic goods and protective face masks via companies based in several European … Read more
EU
Eurojust
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)