News
News found: 2336 of 2336
Invoice Mill Dismantled
During an action day conducted on 2 March 2021, Hungarian authorities were supported by Europol in dismantling an organised criminal group (OCG) suspected of facilitating VAT fraud and money laundering that caused a more than €8.2 million tax loss to the Hungarian state budget.Through … Read more
Cornelia Riehle LL.M.
EU
Europol
Organised Crime
EDPS Gives Opinion on Europol Reform
On 8 March 2021, the EDPS published its Opinion 4/2021 on the Commission’s Proposal of 9 December 2020 for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2016/794 (→ eucrim 4/2020, 279). The revision of the current Europol Regulation will mainly include amendments as regards Europol’s cooperation … Read more
EU
Europol
Cooperation with Latin-American Partners
During a high-level online meeting of the Europe Latin America Technical Assistance Programme against Transnational Organized Crime (EL PAcCTO) and Eurojust, that was held on 5 March 2021, the partners agreed to expand their cooperation by establishing Contact Points to assist with judicial cross-border cooperation. … Read more
EU
Eurojust
Judicial Cooperation
Cooperation with EUIPO
On 15 March 2021, Eurojust and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) signed a Service-Level Agreement to enhance their cooperation in the fight against criminal abuse of intellectual property rights in the field of counterfeiting and online piracy. Under the agreement, Eurojust will receive … Read more
EU
Eurojust
Eurojust Annual Report 2020
On 23 March 2021, Eurojust published its Annual Report for the year 2020. In 2020, Eurojust continued to be fully operational during the Covid-19 pandemic. The total number of cases supported by the agency increased 13% compared to the previous year, with 8800 cross-border … Read more
EU
Eurojust
Final Report on EJN Peer Evaluation
At the end of March 2021, the EJN published the final report outlining the outcome of its peer evaluation. The peer evaluation is based on contributions and input from the EJN contact points in the EU Member States, EU candidate countries, and EJN-associated countries. … Read more
EU
European Judicial Network (EJN)
AG: Bulgaria Not Allowed to Issue EIOs
AG Michal Bobek recommends that the CJEU decide that Bulgarian authorities cannot issue European Investigation Orders (EIOs) unless Bulgaria introduces remedies against investigative measures. It is the second time that the CJEU is addressed in the specific case (criminal proceedings against Ivan Gavanozov). Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
European Investigation Order
Procedural Safeguards
CJEU Clarifies Scope of Ne Bis in Idem Principle Involving Sentences by Third Countries
On 29 April 2021, the CJEUdelivered a judgment on interpretation of Art. 4(5) of the Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant (FD EAW) for the first time. It also decided that convictions combined with leniency measures in third countries can be a ground for refusing the execution of an EAW. Read more
EU
European Arrest Warrant
Ne bis in idem
Launch of the Digital Platform “Conference on the Future of Europe”
19 April 2021 marked the launch of the multilingual digital platform “Conference on the Future of Europe.” It provides a unique opportunity for European citizens to engage in the debate about the future of Europe and to exchange views with experts and EU … Read more
Dr. Anna Pingen
EU
Reform of the European Union
EDPS Comments on Commission’s Artificial Intelligence Act Proposal
In a press release dated 23 April 2021, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), Wojciech Wiewiórowski, welcomed the Commission’s proposal for a new regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act – → separate news item). The EDPS especially recognised … Read more
EU
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Spotlight Commission Proposes Artificial Intelligence Act
On 21 April 2021, the Commission tabled a proposal for a regulation laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (AI). Following the Commission’s White Paper on AI from 2020 (→ eucrim 1/2020, 8-9) and in a new step aiming to turn Europe into the … Read more
EU
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Commission
Protocol No. 15 to the ECHR Enters into Force
On 21 April 2021, Italy deposited its instrument of ratification of Protocol No. 15 amending the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), thereby bringing the Protocol into force for all CoE member states with effect from 1 August 2021.Protocol No. 15 adds a new … Read more
Dr. András Csúri
Council of Europe
Reform of the European Court of Human Rights
Ambiguous Position of Italian Constitutional Court on Life Imprisonment
On 15 April 2021, the Italian Constitutional Court ruled on the constitutionality of life imprisonment. The main issue concerned the possibility of granting release on licence to convicted criminals sentenced to life imprisonment for very severe offences. Read more
Human Rights Issues
Organised Crime
Commission Consults Public on New EU Police Cooperation Code
The European Commission's work on a European code for cross-border police cooperation is gaining momentum. The idea was presented for the first time in the framework of the EU Security Strategy, which was presented in July 2020 (→ eucrim 2/2020, 71-72). As part of the … Read more
EU
Security Union
Police Cooperation
Brexit: EP Formally Approves TCA and Requests its Involvement in Implementation
On 27 April 2021, the EP consented to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreements. This formal approval paves the way for the agreement to enter into force permanently on 1 May 2021. In an accompanying resolution, the EP assesses in detail the different chapters and topics of the TCA and highlights several issues regarding future cooperation in justice and home affairs and the protection of the EU's financial interests. Read more
EU
Brexit
Commission Provides Guidance on Conflicts of Interest
On 7 April 2021, the European Commission published a guidance on the avoidance and management of conflicts of interest under the new 2018 Financial Regulation (FR). The FR, which entered into force on 2 August 2018, has strengthened the measures to protect the EU’s financial … Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests