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News found: 2081 of 2081
OLAF Discovers Fraud in Bulgarian Ministry and Signs Cooperation Arrangement with Bulgarian Prosecutor
On 1 February 2021, OLAF informed the public that it closed investigations into fraud and misappropriation of EU funds detected within the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior. In the case at issue, the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior received money from the EU Internal Security Fund … Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
OLAF
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
OLAF Supports Raid in Poland against Illegal Business in Medical Products
On 3 February 2021, OLAF reported that Polish police successfully raided premises of a criminal gang that did business with counterfeit and illegal pharmaceutical products. OLAF coordinated the operation which also involved authorities in France and Italy. Investigations revealed that an internationally operating organised crime … Read more
EU
OLAF
OLAF Signs Cooperation Arrangement with Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine
On 11 February, OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä and the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova signed an administrative cooperation agreement (ACA). It will allow a more effective and targeted exchange of information between OLAF and the Ukraine’s General Prosecutor’s Office. OLAF now have 31 ACAs … Read more
EU
OLAF
CJEU Puts an End to Dalli Action against OLAF
On 24 February 2021, the CJEU dismissed the appeal by former Maltese Commissioner John Dalli against a judgment of the General Court of 6 June 2019 (Case C-615/19 P). In this judgment, the General Court dismissed an action in which Dalli claimed compensation … Read more
EU
European Court of Justice (ECJ)
OLAF
Informal Justice Affairs Meetings under Portuguese Presidency
Discussions of the ministers of justice at the first informal videoconference under the Portuguese Council Presidency, held on 29 January 2021, focused on two topics in the area of criminal law:Problems of organised crime as regards counterfeiting of medicine and protective equipment. Portuguese … Read more
EU
Council
EP Input on AI
In a resolution of 20 January 2021, the European Parliament outlined definitions and several ethical principles as regards the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military and civilian sectors. There is no focus on tje use of AI in criminal justice, however the … Read more
EU
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Legislation
Public Consultation on Digitalisation of Cross-Border Justice
Following its communication of 2 December 2020 on the digitalisation of justice in the EU (→ see seperate news item), the Commission has published a consultation on the digitalisation of cross-border criminal and civil proceedings. The consultation is running until 11 May 2021 and … Read more
EU
Legislation
Commission Sets Out Digital Compass
On 9 March 2021, the Commission presented a concrete vision, targets and avenues for Europe to become a leader in the digital area by 2030. The Communication “2030 Digital Compass: the European Way for the Digital Decade” (COM(2021) 118 final) sets out:A vision for … Read more
EU
Legislation
European Court of Human Rights
Commission Takes First Steps for International Data Flows Post-Brexit
After the UK finally left the EU on 1 January 2021, the rules for international data transmission in the General Data Protection Regulation No. 2016/679 (GDPR) and the Directive on the exchange of personal data between law enforcement authorities No. 2016/680 (LED) will apply. Both … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Brexit
Commission Launches/Continues Infringements Proceedings in Several JHA Matters
In February 2021, the Commission launched several infringement proceedings against EU Member States for having incorrectly transposed various EU instruments in the area of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA). In the following proceedings, the Commission took the first step by sending a letter of formal … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Roadmap on 2021 Justice Scoreboard
On 11 March 2021, the EU Commission published a roadmap for the new edition of the EU Justice Scoreboard 2021. The roadmap sets out the Commission’s approach for this year’s ninth report on the state of European justice systems. For previous editions → eucrim 2/2020, … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
EU Launches Conference on the Future of Europe
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President David Sassoli and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa (whose country holds the Council of the EU’s rotating presidency) signed the Joint Declaration on the Conference on the Future of Europe at a ceremony on 10 … Read more
EU
Reform of the European Union
EP: EU Must Be Credible Actor in Global Human Rights Protection
In its annual report assessing the human rights situation in the world in 2019, adopted in the plenary on 20 January 2020, MEPs express deep concerns about authoritarian regimes around the world having used the pandemic to repress civil society and critical voices. They called … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
CEPEJ: 8th Evaluation Report on European Judicial Systems
On 22 October 2020, CEPEJ published its eighth biennial evaluation report on the efficiency and quality of justice in Europe. The 2020 report contains data on the functioning of the judicial systems of 45 CoE Member States (Liechtenstein and San Marino were unable to provide … Read more
Dr. András Csúri
Council of Europe
Procedural Safeguards
GRECO: Fifth Round Evaluation Report on Albania
On 3 December 2020, GRECO published its fifth round evaluation report on Albania. Albania has been a member of GRECO since 2001 and fully implemented most of the recommendations of the first four evaluation rounds. That said, the level of corruption remains high in the … Read more
Council of Europe
Corruption
GRECO: Fifth Round Evaluation Report on Germany
On 15 December 2020, GRECO published its fifth round evaluation report on Germany. The focus of this evaluation round is on preventing corruption and promoting integrity in central governments (top executive functions) and law enforcement agencies. The evaluation focuses particularly on issues of conflicts … Read more
Council of Europe
Corruption