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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
Thomas Wahl
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
GRECO: Fourth Round Evaluation Report on Liechtenstein
On 16 December 2020, GRECO published its fourth round evaluation report on Liechtenstein. This evaluation round was launched in 2012 in order to assess how states address the prevention of corruption with respect to Members of Parliament (MPs), judges, and prosecutors (for other reports à … Read more
Council of Europe
Corruption
Report
Post-conference Report of the Online Conference “Transposition of the PIF Directive into National Legislation” (25-26 February 2021) Status quo and its consequences on the effectiveness of the EPPO's investigations and prosecutions – Annual Forum on Combating Fraud in the EU
This report outlines the main conclusions that were made during the annual forum on combating fraud. The online conference was organised by ERA and funded by OLAF under the Hercule Programme. It focused on the implementation of the the PIF Directive into national legislation and its consequences for the operations of the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Read more
Laviero Buono
EU
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
Protection of Financial Interests
Spotlight Brexit: EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement – Impacts on PIF and JHA in a Nutshell
This Spotlight gives an overview of the main provisions of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement that was concluded on Christmas eve 2020 as far as issues related to the protection of the EU's financial interests and cooperation in the area of justice and home affairs is concerned. The Agreement will regulate the future (close) relationship between the EU and the UK after the Brexit as of 1 January 2021. It also includes hints where to find summaries and provides a first assessment. Read more
EU
Brexit
Home Affairs Meetings under Portuguese Presidency
At their informal videoconference on 28 January 2021, ministers of home affairs discussed the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, which was proposed by the Commission in September 2020. During its Council Presidency (which started on 1 January 2021), Portugal wants to focus … Read more
EU
Council
Euro-Arab Technical Round Table
On 1 December 2020, Frontex and the General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council co-organised the first Euro-Arab Technical Roundtable on Border Management and Security. The round table brought together representatives from 18 EU states and 14 Arab states. Issues discussed at the … Read more
Cornelia Riehle LL.M.
EU
Frontex
Second International Conference on Biometrics for Borders
On 1-3 December 2020, Frontex held its second International Conference on Biometrics for Borders (ICBB), focussing on the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES) that will start at the EU’s external border in February 2022. The virtual conference brought together experts from border guard … Read more
EU
Frontex
New National Member for Cyprus
On 16 November 2020, Eleni Kouzoupi took up her position as National Member for Cyprus at Eurojust. Before joining Eurojust, Ms Kouzoupi served as Counsellor on Justice and Home Affairs matters at the Cypriot Permanent Representation in Brussels. She succeeds Katerina Loizou who held the … Read more
EU
Eurojust
Vice-President Elected
On 17 November 2020, the College of Eurojust elected Boštjan Škrlec as its Vice-President for the next four years. Mr. Škrlec has been National Member for Slovenia at Eurojust since 2017. Read more
EU
Eurojust
New National Member for Spain
At the end of November 2020, José de la Mata Amaya took up position as new National Member for Spain at Eurojust. Before joining Eurojust, Mr de la Mata Amaya served as judge of the Central Investigative Court No 5 of the Spanish National Court. … Read more
EU
Eurojust
Further Cooperation between Eurojust and Third States
On 19 November 2020, the European Commission issued a Recommendation for a Council Decision to authorise the opening of negotiations for Agreements between the EU and ten third States, in order to foster judicial cooperation with Eurojust. The States include Algeria, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, … Read more
EU
Eurojust
JHA Agencies Stepping Up Digitalisation
On 20 November 2020, the heads of the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Agencies met virtually to exchange ideas on Artificial Intelligence and digital capacity building as well as training tools and innovative learning. As a next step, the JHA agencies agreed to draw … Read more
EU
Eurojust
VAT Fraud Dismantled
At the end of November 2020, Hungarian authorities, supported by law enforcement authorities from Austria, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, and by Eurojust, dismantled an Organised Crime Group (OCG) involving large-scale VAT fraud. The OCG had been operating a multi-level company network … Read more
EU
Eurojust