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News found: 2488 of 2488
Justice Ministers from CoE Member States Commit to Improving Cooperation in Cross-Border Crime
At a meeting held in Valletta, Malta, on 19 September 2025, the justice ministers from the Council of Europe member states adopted a declaration designed to foster cooperation in the fight against transnational crime. Read more
Thomas Wahl
Council of Europe
Organised Crime
Judicial Cooperation
General Court Confirms Adequacy of U.S. Data Protection
On 3 September 2025, the General Court (GC) dismissed an action seeking annulment of the Commission’s adequacy decision of 10 July 2023 (Decision EU 2023/1795), namely that the United States of America ensure an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred from the EU under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. Read more
Dr. Anna Pingen
EU
Fundamental Rights
Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
Data Protection
Spotlight ECJ Clarifies Principle Lex Posterior Mitius
In its judgment in BAJI Trans of 1 August 2025, the ECJ provided important clarifications on the scope and application of the principle that the more lenient law should apply in criminal cases. This so-called principle lex posterior mitius is enshrined in the last sentence of Art. 49(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
Largest Container Seizure in the EU
An investigation led by the EPPO in Athens, Greece resulted in the largest container seizure in the EU to date. A total of 2435 shipping containers, primarily containing e-bikes, textiles, and footwear, were seized at the Port of Piraeus. The goods, which are estimated to … Read more
Cornelia Riehle LL.M.
EU
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
Organised Crime
Tax Evasion
Spotlight ECJ: EU Member State Cannot Enforce Prison Sentence without Consent of Sentencing State
On 4 September 2025, the Grand Chamber of the ECJ decided that an EU Member State cannot enforce a custodial sentence imposed in another Member State itself without the consent of that State. The sentencing State may maintain the EAW and seek to have the person concerned back for enforcement of the prison sentence on its own territory. Read more
EU
European Arrest Warrant
Taking Account of Convictions
Transfer of Sentenced Persons
Anniversary of CoE's AI Convention
On 5 September 2025, the Council of Europe celebrated the first anniversary of the opening for signature of its Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence at a conference in Madrid, Spain. The Council of Europe’s Committee on artificial intelligence (CAI) and the Complutense University of Madrid jointly organised the conference. Academic experts and members of the CAI Bureau shared theoretical and methodological insights on the convention’s key themes. Read more
Council of Europe
Spotlight Europol Concept Paper "Policing in an Online World"
On 18 July 2025, Europol’s Innovation Lab published a concept paper on how the police can adapt to citizens' increasingly digital lives. It gives guidance on how police can be present wherever citizens are online, delivering safety and protection much like in the physical world. Read more
EU
Europol
Cybercrime
Law Enforcement Cooperation
Police Cooperation
Foreign Terrorist Fighters and Female Returnees: Legal Responses and Cumulative Prosecution
A new report by the Genocide Prosecution Network, published in early September 2025, provides legal strategies and practical guidance for prosecuting foreign terrorist fighters and female returnees for terrorism-related offences and war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide ("core international crimes"). It emphasises that this approach ensures comprehensive accountability and justice for victims. Read more
EU
Eurojust
Terrorism
Judicial Cooperation
Commission Proposal on Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034
On 16 July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the multiannual financial framework from 2028 to 2034. It sets out sets spending limits for multi-year periods in order to ensure long-term planning security and budgetary discipline beyond the EU's annual budgets. This news item sets out the main features of the proposal and summarises the debate in the run-up of the proposal. Read more
EU
Commission
Protection of Financial Interests
Spotlight 36th Annual PIF Report
On 25 July 2025, the European Commission released the 36th Annual Report on the protection of the European Union’s financial interests and the fight against fraud – 2024. A focus of this year's report is on the digitalisation of the fight against fraud. Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
Spotlight Anti-fraud Architecture Review Launched
On 16 July 2025, the European Commission published a White Paper that launches the review of the EU's anti-fraud architecture (AFA). It sets out preliminary orientations and several key questions that are designed to initiate a broader reflection on the future AFA. This includes improvements of detecting EU fraud and better investigation/prosecution capabilities. Read more
EU
OLAF
Europol
Eurojust
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
Protection of Financial Interests
Annual Tobacco Conference in Helsinki
From 16-18 September 2025, representatives from customs authorities and other stakeholders met in Helsinki for the 28th edition of the Tobacco Conference. Organised by OLAF in cooperation with the Finnish Customs, over 100 participants discussed persistent and evolving challenges in relation to tobacco smuggling … Read more
EU
OLAF
Counterfeiting & Piracy
Protection of Financial Interests
ECJ: Judicial Review under National Law Does Not Hinder Issuance of EIO by Administrative Authority
According to the ECJ's ruling of 10 July 2025 in WBS GmbH, an administrative authority that investigates crimes can be treated as "issuing authority" within the meaning of the EIO Directive, even if certain investigative measures sought (involving an interference with the fundamental rights of the person concerned) must, in accordance with national law, first be authorised by a judicial authority. Read more
EU
European Investigation Order
Judicial Cooperation
The OLAF Report 2024
On 16 June 2025, OLAF presented its annual activity report. In 2024, OLAF recommended the recovery of €871.5 million to the EU budget and prevented €43.5 million from being unduly spent from the EU budget. The Office concluded 246 cases and issued 301 recommendations for follow-up to the relevant national and EU authorities. Read more
EU
OLAF
Protection of Financial Interests
FRA Opens Liaison Office in Brussels
In late August 2025, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) opened a new liaison office in Brussels to strengthen its dialogue and exchange with key stakeholders.The office will act as a hub for stakeholder engagement, with the following aims:Build closer relationships … Read more
EU
Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
AG: Domestic Enforcement in the Event of Refusal to Surrender on Grounds of Fundamental Rights
According to an opinion by AG Rantos, published on 10 July 2025, an EU Member State, which refuses to execute a European Arrest Warrant on the grounds that there is a risk of violation of the fundamental rights of the persons concerned in the issuing Member State, is obliged to order the enforcement of the sentence on its own territory. Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
European Arrest Warrant
Taking Account of Convictions
Transfer of Sentenced Persons