News
News found: 2070 of 2070
Spotlight CJEU Imposes Further Restrictions to German Penal Order System
In its judgment of 14 May 2020 (Case C-615/18, UY/Staatsanwaltschaft Offenburg), the CJEU had to deal with the German rules on the service of penal orders (Strafbefehle) to persons living abroad and with their interpretation in conformity with EU law, in … Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
Procedural Safeguards
Commission Satisfaction with Application of Code of Conduct to Counter Illegal Hate Speech Online
On 22 June 2020, the Commission released the results of its meanwhile fifth evaluation of the Code of Conduct on Countering Illegal Hate Speech Online. The Code of Conduct was agreed on 31 May 2016 to ensure that requests to remove racist and xenophobic Internet … Read more
EU
Racism and Xenophobia
Council Conclusions on Financial Investigations to Fight Organised Crime
Financial investigations should become a horizontal, cross-cutting priority in order to combat all forms of organised crime. This is one of key points of Council conclusions on the enhancement of financial investigations, which were approved on 17 June 2020.Considering that the proceeds of … Read more
EU
Organised Crime
Council Conclusions on Excise Duties on Tobacco
On 2 June 2020, the Council adopted conclusions on the structure and rates of excise duty applied to manufactured tobacco. The Council recognises that the current provisions of the legal framework, i.e., Directive 2011/64/EU, have become less effective, as they are either no longer … Read more
EU
Tax Evasion
Council Conclusions on Future of Administrative Cooperation in Taxation
On 2 June 2020, the Council approved conclusions on the future evolution of administrative cooperation in the field of taxation in the EU. The Council calls on the Commission to propose an update on the current legal basis, which is framed by Directive 2011/16/EU. A … Read more
EU
Tax Evasion
EP Sets Up Permanent Subcommittee on Tax Matters
On 18 June 2020, the plenary of the European Parliament set up a standing subcommittee on tax matters. It is a subcommittee to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. It will focus particularly on the fight against tax fraud, tax evasion, and tax … Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
Tax Evasion
Coronavirus Impact on Taxation Rules
On 8 May 2020, the Commission proposed the postponement of the entry into force of two EU taxation measures that are also designed to fight tax evasion/avoidance. This move comes in the wake of the difficulties that businesses and Member States’ administrations are currently facing … Read more
EU
Tax Evasion
ECA Announces AML Audit
On 11 June 2020, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) provided information on an upcoming audit on the effectiveness of the EU’s anti-money laundering policy in the banking sector. The audit follows plans by the Commission, the Council, and the European Parliament to review and … Read more
EU
Money Laundering
Tax Evasion
Commission Issues New List of High-Risk Third Countries
Alongside a refined methodology for identifying third countries with strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT frameworks (high-risk third countries → related link), the Commission adopted a new list of these countries on 7 May 2020. The list is a last resort for the EU, but required … Read more
EU
Money Laundering
Commission’s Refined Methodology for Identifying High-Risk Third Countries
By means of the Staff Working Paper SWD(2020) 99 final) of 7 May 2020, the Commission presented a refined and more transparent methodological approach by which to identify high-risk third countries with strategic deficiencies in their regime on anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing. The … Read more
EU
Money Laundering
Spotlight Action Plan on Preventing Money Laundering: Six Pillars
EU action against money laundering and terrorist financing must be ambitious and multifaceted. This is the main line of argumentation in the Commission Action Plan for a comprehensive Union policy on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing (Communication C(2020) 2800 final). The Action … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Money Laundering
Commission Tables Measures to Enhance AML/CFT
Following its roadmap “towards a new comprehensive approach to preventing and combating money laundering and terrorism financing” of February 2020 (see separate news item), the European Commission put forward a series of further measures on 7 May 2020. They are designed to step up … Read more
EU
Money Laundering
OLAF & Europol Foil Smuggling of Dangerous Counterfeit Pesticides
On 5 June 2020, OLAF reported on the meanwhile “fifth edition” of the operation Silver Axe. It led to the seizure of 1346 tons of illicit and counterfeit pesticides. The operation was coordinated by Europol and OLAF and involved police, customs, and plant protection … Read more
EU
Europol
OLAF
OLAF Supports Seizure of Smuggled Cigarettes
The Italian Guardia di Finanza caught a consignment of nearly 55,000 cigarettes destined for entry into the EU black market in a seizure coordinated by OLAF. OLAF received information from Turkish Customs about a suspicious convoy with a significant quantity of cigarettes, which was … Read more
EU
OLAF
AI Reports Discussed in EP Committees
In May/June 2020, committees of the European Parliament discussed several reports on artificial intelligence. These reports include:Draft report with recommendations to the Commission on a civil liability regime for artificial intelligence (rapporteur Axel Voss (DE/EPP));Draft report on intellectual property rights for the development … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Legislation
State of Play of Current Legislative JHA Proposals
At the video conference meeting of the ministers of justice of the EU Member States on 4 June 2020, the Croatian Council Presidency informed the ministers about the state of play of current legislative proposals in the areas of justice and home affairs. The overview … Read more
EU
Legislation