News
News found: 2074 of 2074
Tax Justice: Report Documents Global Tax Losses
On 20 November 2020, the Tax Justice Network published the State of Tax Justice 2020 report. The report is the first of its kind on tax evasion that comprehensively identifies the amount of tax revenue each nation loses every year to corporate and private … Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
Tax Evasion
EDPB Statement on EU’s Recent AML/CFT Action Plan
On 15 December 2020, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) called on the European legislator to review the relationship between the anti-money laundering measures and the rights to privacy and data protection when it prepares new legal framework in the area of money laundering and … Read more
EU
Money Laundering
OLAF Supports Seizure of Dangerous Machine Components
On 23 November 2020, OLAF and the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) made public a successful blow against counterfeit mechanical components (370kg of bearings), which originated from China. Bearings are important machine elements ensuring that machineries, e.g. motor engines or electric fans, are moving … Read more
EU
OLAF
Joint Action Day “Arktos 2”
Between 16 and 25 November 2020, law enforcement authorities in the EU were able to seize, among others, 37 million illegal cigarettes, over 1.8 tons of tobacco and more than 3.5 thousand litres of illegal fuel. The seizures were carried out in the framework of … Read more
Cornelia Riehle LL.M.
EU
OLAF
Europol
Eurojust
Frontex
Protection of Financial Interests
Successful Seizure of Illegal Cigarettes in Spain
On 3 December 2020, the Spanish customs authority was able to seize more than 260,000 packs of contraband tobacco, worth more than €1 million in Barcelona. The cigarettes were smuggled into the EU in containers from China declared as containing LED lights. Two smugglers … Read more
EU
OLAF
Joint Strike against Medicine Trafficking
On 10 December 2020, the public was informed of the operation “Shield” carried out between March and September 2020. The operation resulted in the seizure of medicines and doping substances worth €73 million all over Europe. Nearly 700 persons were arrested, 25 organised criminal groups … Read more
EU
OLAF
OLAF Hub for Seizure of Contaminated Hand Sanitisers
Thanks to OLAF, information about contaminated hand sanitisers from a manufacturer in Turkey could be spread among EU law enforcement authorities and shipments dismantled. In August 2020, Danish authorities first detected the contaminated sanitisers and reported to OLAF. The EU’s anti-fraud office immediately informed other … Read more
EU
OLAF
Long-Term Operation Dismantles Illegal Cigarette Trade Scheme
On 21 December 2020, OLAF reported that the final phase of a long-term trans-European operation against illegal cigarette smuggling and production ended by raids in Romania, Hungary and Italy. The operation dubbed “Kharon” started three years ago and targeted the carriers of the precursors for … Read more
EU
OLAF
Operation between EU and UK Reveals Excise Duty Fraud with Cigarettes
On 21 December 2020, OLAF and Europol reported on a successful European-wide joint operation against fraudulent trade in cigarettes. The operation took place in November 2020 and involved 15 EU Member States and the UK. Europol and OLAF facilitated the operation by intelligence analyses, … Read more
EU
OLAF
Spotlight OLAF’s New Amended Legal Framework
OLAF received a new legal framework. New Regulation 2020/2223 amends the current Regulation 883/2013 and adapts OLAF's operational work to the establishment of the EPPO, enhances the effectiveness of OLAF's investigations and simplifies/clarifies certain current provisions. Read more
EU
OLAF
Last Justice Council under German Presidency Focused on Justice Aspects of Countering Terrorism
At the videoconference of the Ministers of Justice of the EU Member States on 2 December 2020 – the last Justice Council meeting that was chaired by the German Presidency – participants above all discussed justice-related aspects in the fight against terrorism and the development … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Council
Spotlight Commission Proposes New Regulations on Responsibilities of Digital Services
On 15 December 2020, the Commission tabled two important proposals that will establish horizontal, harmonised rules on governing digital services in the EU. They are part of the European Digital Strategy, Shaping Europe’s Digital Future; the package will complement the European Democracy Action Plan … Read more
EU
Legislation
Strengthening the Schengen Area: Schengen Forum Meets for the First Time
35 years ago, on 14 June 1985, France, Germany and the three Benelux States signed the Schengen Agreement that removed internal border controls between those Member States. Today, the Schengen area encompasses 26 European states with over 400 million citizens. Since several years, the area … Read more
EU
Schengen
Commission Report on the Functioning of the Schengen Area over the Past 5 Years
Ahead of the newly created Schengen Forum (--> separate news item), the Commission published a report on 25.11.2020 on the implementation of the Schengen acquis rules and the functioning of the Schengen Evaluation and Monitoring Mechanism between 2015 and 2019. The current Schengen Evaluation and … Read more
EU
Schengen
E-Evidence Package: EP Paves Way for Trilogue Negotiations
In December 2020, the EP adopted its position on the contentious Commission proposals on gathering electronic evidence at IT companies. Now, trilogue negotiations can start between the EP, the Council and the Commission. Read more
EU
e-Evidence
Law Enforcement Cooperation
Council Conclusions on Internal Security and European Police Partnership
On 14 December 2020, the Council adopted conclusions on internal security and European Police Partnership. They are designed to give further political guidance on improvements in the field of law enforcement cooperation, future reactions to security challenges, and use of the potential of evolving … Read more
EU
Security Union
Police Cooperation