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AG: Questioning Without a Lawyer after Deadline for Appearing Has Passed Contravenes EU Law
In two parallel infringement proceedings against Hungary and the Czech Republic, AG Tamara Ćapeta concluded that both Member States have failed to correctly transpose Directive 2013/48/EU on the right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings as their national legislations allow the questioning of suspects without a lawyer if the lawyer does not appear within a certain time period. Read more
Dr. Anna Pingen
EU
Fundamental Rights
Procedural Safeguards
2026 MEDICRIME Conference: Call for Wider Accession to the MEDICRIME Convention
On 28 April 2026, high-level representatives from health, law enforcement, customs, and judicial authorities, as well as from international organisations and the private sector adopted conclusions on the MEDICRIME Convention. The Council of Europe's MEDICRIME Convention is the only international criminal law instrument aimed … Read more
Thomas Wahl
Council of Europe
Counterfeiting & Piracy
GRECO: Sixth Round Evaluation Report on Estonia
On 10 April 2026, GRECO published its newest report on Estonia. It is the first report of the sixth round of mutual evaluations. While acknowledging several good practices, the report also identified areas in which progress should be made, such as conflict of interest prevention. Read more
Council of Europe
Corruption
CJEU Confirms National Courts’ Role in Reviewing EPPO Measures
On 16 April 2026, the Court of Justice (ECJ) delivered its appeal judgment in Case C-328/24 P, Mincu Pătrașcu Brâncuși v EPPO, concerning a challenge brought by a Romanian national against procedural actions taken by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO).In an … Read more
Cornelia Riehle LL.M.
EU
European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO)
Procedural Safeguards
New Romanian National Member at Eurojust
In May 2026, the new National Member for Romania at Eurojust, Prosecutor Emilia Ioana Lionte, took up her duties.Before joining Eurojust, Ms Lionte served within Romania’s National Anticorruption Directorate and gained extensive experience in international judicial cooperation, working as a national expert at … Read more
EU
Eurojust
Europol Starts Search for New Executive Director
On 2 May 2026, Europol entered a transition phase following the departure of Executive Director Catherine De Bolle, who stepped down on 1 May 2026 after eight years in office.The process to appoint a new Executive Director is now underway. Applications closed on … Read more
EU
Europol
Eurojust Annual Report 2025
On 24 April 2026, Eurojust published its Annual Report for 2025 highlighting a continued expansion of the Agency’s operational activities, judicial cooperation work, and international role in combating serious cross-border crime. The report has been published both as a pdf version for download and as … Read more
EU
Eurojust
Judicial Cooperation
ECA Unsatisfied with Transparency and Traceability in RRF
According to the ECA's special report of 6 May 2026, information on recipients, actual costs and results achieved under the current Recovery and Resilience Facility is insufficient. Gaps in transparency and traceability must be taken into account in the negotiations on the future EU budgets. Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
Spotlight ECA: EU’s COVID-19 Recovery Fund Remains Vulnerable to Fraud
In a Special Report published on 11 February 2026, the European Court of Auditors found that the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) continues to suffer from weaknesses in the detection, reporting and correction of fraud cases. Read more
EU
ECA Opinions on Next MFF: "Many Changes May Not Make the Budget Better"
This news item summarises the "overview document" by the European Court of Auditors which summarises the main risks and challenges of the Commission's proposals on programmes for the next EU funding period 2028-2034. The Court issued a dozen opinions in the first quarter 2026. Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
ECJ: Speciality Rule in TCA is No Refusal Ground
On 23 April 2026, the ECJ held in Case C-528/24 (Boothnesse) that a possible infringement of the speciality rule - a basic concept in extradition law - by the issuing State does not constitute, in itself, a ground for the executing judicial authority to refuse the execution of an extradition arrest warrant. Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Judicial Cooperation
Procedural Safeguards
Frontex and Armenia Initial New Cooperation Arrangement
During the EU–Armenia summit held on 4/5 May 2026, Frontex and Armenia formally initialled a new Working Arrangement on border and migration management.The proposed arrangement provides for cooperation in areas including training, exchange of expertise, and risk analysis. Initialling confirms agreement on the text … Read more
EU
Frontex
Spotlight AG: The Commission Was Not Allowed to Release Funds for Hungary
n her Opinion, published on 12 February 2026 in Case C-225/24 (Parliament v Commission), Advocate General (AG) Tamara Ćapeta proposes that the Commission’s decision to release EU funds withheld from Hungary be annulled. Read more
EU
Rule of Law
European Parliament
Commission
Protection of Financial Interests
Spotlight ECJ Clarifies Scope of and Fundamental Rights Refusal Ground in Confiscation Regulation
In the first judgment interpreting Regulation 2018/1805, the ECJ clarified whether the Regulation applies to confiscation orders issued in criminal proceedings that ended in an acquittal, but in which the court nevertheless ordered confiscation of property considered to be the proceeds of another criminal offence. Furthermore, the ECJ ruled on the ground for non-recognition due to a manifest breach of fundamental rights. Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Judicial Cooperation
Freezing of Assets / Confiscation
Europol Launches European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling
On 24 March 2026, Europol launched the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS) as part of the implementation of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum. The centre is intended to consolidate and strengthen existing Europol capabilities, leading to a more integrated, operationally focused structure … Read more
EU
Europol
Organised Crime
Trafficking in Human Beings
Law Enforcement Cooperation
Spotlight CoE Opens New Convention on Environmental Crime for Signature
On 3 December 2025, the Council of Europe opened the Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law (CETS No. 228) for signature, marking a significant step in the development of international legal tools to address environmental crime. The new convention seeks to strengthen criminal justice responses to serious environmental harm and promote closer cooperation between states in the investigation and prosecution of such offences. Read more
Council of Europe
Environmental Crime