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News found: 2397 of 2397
Commission Gives Guidance on Strengthening the Code of Practice on Disinformation
On 26 May 2021, the Commission released a Communication entitled “Guidance on Strengthening the Code of Practice on Disinformation.” The Commission stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the problem posed by disinformation as well as the increasing importance of digital technologies in … Read more
Dr. Anna Pingen
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Legislation
Launch of the European Drug Report 2021
On 9 June 2021, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) launched the European Drug Report 2021. The report delivers the most recent overview of the drug situation in Europe, based on data from 29 countries (27 Member States, Turkey, and … Read more
EU
Organised Crime
EDPS Launched Two Investigations Following the “Schrems II” Judgement
On 27 May 2021, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) launched two investigations following the Court of Justice ruling in Case C-311/18 Data Protection Commissioner v Facebook Ireland Ltd and Maximilian Schrems (“Schrems II”) of 16 July 2020 (→ eucrim 2/2020, 98-99). The two … Read more
EU
Data Protection
Commission Strategy for a Stronger and More Resilient Schengen Area
On 2 June 2021, the Commission presented its new strategy for a fully functioning and resilient Schengen area. With this strategy, the Commission is aiming to make the Schengen area – the largest visa-free zone in the world – stronger and more resilient, accentuating … Read more
EU
Schengen
Poland: Rule-of-Law Developments April – June 2021
This news item continues the updates in previous eucrim issues on the rule-of-law situation in Poland as far as it relates to European law (→ inter alia, eucrim 1/2021, 4 and eucrim 4/2020, 257). Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
EUIPO: Consumers Face Risks of Fake Products More than Ever
The problem of product piracy has worsened during the corona pandemic, in particular due to the accompanying increase in online trade. Counterfeiters have mainly exploited people’s uncertainty in the face of emerging treatments and vaccines, according to the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) Read more
EU
Counterfeiting & Piracy
Spotlight 1 June 2021: EPPO Assumes its Investigatory and Prosecutorial Tasks
On 1 June 2021, the EPPO assumed its investigative and prosecutorial tasks. The relevant Commission decision was published in the EU's Official Journal on 28 May 2021. In a joint statement Commissioners Jourová, Hahn and Reynders said that "this day [1 June 2021] opens a new chapter in fighting cross-border crime.” Read more
EU
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
OLAF Helps Greek Authorities Seize Nearly 10 Million Contraband Cigarettes
At the end of May 2021, Greek authorities succeeded in seizing almost 10 million contraband cigarettes. The cigarettes were smuggled from China in suitcases. The action prevented the loss of around €2 million in excise duties and VAT. OLAF supported the operation by alerting the … Read more
EU
OLAF
Tax Evasion
OLAF Involved in Operation against Eel Trafficking
OLAF participated in Operation Lake. This annual operation, which started five years ago, targets the smuggling of the protected European eel. The operation led to 52 arrests and the seizure of over 400 kg of eels valued at around €1.2 million. The authorities also detected new modi operandi used by criminal networks for the eel trafficking. Read more
EU
OLAF
Environmental Crime
Cooperation between OLAF and WCO on New Footing
On 7 June 2021, OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä and the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Kunio Mikuriya, signed a new agreement enhancing cooperation between the two bodies. The new “Administrative Cooperation Arrangement” widens the scope and operational possibilities of a … Read more
EU
OLAF
Customs Cooperation
OLAF Activity Report 2020
On 10 June 2021, OLAF published its activity report for 2020. The report highlights that OLAF’s work was much marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, when OLAF had to act against fake and substandard medical products which risked floating the EU market especially at the … Read more
EU
OLAF
CoE Committee Adopts Draft on E-Evidence Protocol
On 28 May 2021, the CoE Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY), which represents the State Parties to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, approved the draft for the Second Protocol to the Convention. It will enhance cooperation and disclosure of electronic evidence. Read more
Council of Europe
e-Evidence
Law Enforcement Cooperation
Organisations Reiterate their Demand for a Fundamental Rights-Based Approach to Future E-Evidence Law
Civil society stakeholders reiterated their demand that the forthcoming EU legislation on “e-evidence”, which will ease the cross-border gathering and transfer of data for use in criminal proceedings, must include strong fundamental rights safeguards Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
e-Evidence
Law Enforcement Cooperation
AG: Prosecutor Has Limited Competence to Issue EIOs
AG Manuel Campos Sánchez-Bordona concluded that a public prosecutor is not entitled to issue a European Investigation Order (EIO) if the underlying investigative measure (here: collection of traffic and location data associated with telecommunications) can only be ordered by a court in purely domestic cases. Read more
EU
European Investigation Order
Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement between EU and Japan to Be Revised
On 1 June 2021, the Commission submitted a recommendation to the Council in which it seeks authorisation to open negotiations with Japan in order to amend the EU-Japan Agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. The Agreement entered into force on 2 January 2011. … Read more
EU
Judicial Cooperation
Data Protection
Spotlight CJEU Judgment on Compatibility of Interpol Searches and Arrests with Ne bis in idem Principle
States that are party to the Schengen Agreement can refuse to follow an Interpol red notice seeking extradition of an individual to a third country if he/she has already been finally tried in one of the Schengen States. The CJEU delivered this groundbreaking judgment on 12 May 2021 in Case C-505/19. Read more
EU
Judicial Cooperation
Police Cooperation
Data Protection
Ne bis in idem