News
News found: 2394 of 2394
EP Call on Reform of EU Blacklist on Tax Havens
By an overwhelming majority of 587 votes in favour (50 against and 46 abstentions), MEPs adopted a resolution on reforming the EU list of tax havens. The resolution backs a motion of December 2020 prepared by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (→ https://eucrim.eu/news/meps-call-reform-eu-list-tax-havens/). … Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
Tax Evasion
AG: Union Law Allows Punishment of Self-Laundering
Advocate General Hogan held that Union law does not preclude the interpretation of a national provision which criminalises so-called self-money laundering. He is of the opinion that neither the wording of the said provision of Directive 2005/60 nor the objective of the Directive exclude the criminalisation of self-laundering. Read more
Money Laundering
Commission: Germany, Portugal, and Romania Failed to Correctly Transpose 4th AMLD
In February 2021, the Commission formally initiated infringement procedures against Germany, Portugal, and Romania for having incorrectly transposed the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (Directive (EU) 2015/849). As an initial step, the Commission sent a letter of formal notice requesting further information to … Read more
EU
Money Laundering
Protection of Financial Interests
Disputes over Budget Conditionality Mechanism
On 11 March 2021, Poland and Hungary filed an action with the CJEU seeking review of the conditionality mechanism. On 25 March 2021, the EP countered in a resolution. The EP urged the Commission to immediately start investigations of possible breaches of rule of law principles and to protect the EU budget. If the Commission fails to fulfill its obligations, the EP considers the launch of legal action before the CJEU under Art. 265 TFEU. Read more
EU
Protection of Financial Interests
Administrative Director of EPPO Appointed
On 20 January 2021, the College of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) appointed Olivier Ramsayer as its first Administrative Director. Mr Ramsayer comes from Frontex where he was Director of Corporate Governance. EPPO’s Administrative Director is the legal representative of the new body … Read more
EU
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
Appointment of European Delegated Prosecutors in Process
The EPPO is still in the process of setting up its operational capacities. The process of appointment of the European Delegated Prosecutors is ongoing. On 11 March 2021, Belgium was the tenth EU Member States that have sent candidates for the position of European … Read more
EU
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
EPPO Website
The website of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is launched. Information about the mandate and tasks, the members, job vacancies, news, documents, etc. is available at: https://www.eppo.europa.eu/. Read more
EU
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
Hits against Illegal Tobacco Trade in 2020
In a press release issued on 14 January 2021, OLAF took stock of successful operations against illegal tobacco trade in 2020. In 20 operations, national customs and law enforcement authorities were able to seize nearly 370 million cigarettes that were foreseen for the black … Read more
EU
OLAF
OLAF Investigated Irregularities in Funding Agricultural Activities in Slovakia
On 21 January 2021, OLAF reported on three cases that were closed in 2020 involving irregularities in agricultural funds in Slovakia. The three cases concerned direct payment applications made between 2013 and 2019 by several Slovakian companies. Investigations found that the conditions to receive … Read more
EU
OLAF
Eurojust
OLAF Discovers Fraud in Bulgarian Ministry and Signs Cooperation Arrangement with Bulgarian Prosecutor
On 1 February 2021, OLAF informed the public that it closed investigations into fraud and misappropriation of EU funds detected within the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior. In the case at issue, the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior received money from the EU Internal Security Fund … Read more
EU
OLAF
European Public Prosectutor's Office (EPPO)
OLAF Supports Raid in Poland against Illegal Business in Medical Products
On 3 February 2021, OLAF reported that Polish police successfully raided premises of a criminal gang that did business with counterfeit and illegal pharmaceutical products. OLAF coordinated the operation which also involved authorities in France and Italy. Investigations revealed that an internationally operating organised … Read more
EU
OLAF
OLAF Signs Cooperation Arrangement with Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine
On 11 February, OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä and the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova signed an administrative cooperation agreement (ACA). It will allow a more effective and targeted exchange of information between OLAF and the Ukraine’s General Prosecutor’s Office. OLAF now have 31 ACAs … Read more
EU
OLAF
CJEU Puts an End to Dalli Action against OLAF
On 24 February 2021, the CJEU dismissed the appeal by former Maltese Commissioner John Dalli against a judgment of the General Court of 6 June 2019 (Case C-615/19 P). In this judgment, the General Court dismissed an action in which Dalli claimed compensation … Read more
EU
Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
OLAF
Informal Justice Affairs Meetings under Portuguese Presidency
Discussions of the ministers of justice at the first informal videoconference under the Portuguese Council Presidency, held on 29 January 2021, focused on two topics in the area of criminal law:Problems of organised crime as regards counterfeiting of medicine and protective equipment. Portuguese … Read more
EU
Council
EP Input on AI
In a resolution of 20 January 2021, the European Parliament outlined definitions and several ethical principles as regards the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military and civilian sectors. There is no focus on tje use of AI in criminal justice, however the … Read more
EU
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Legislation
Public Consultation on Digitalisation of Cross-Border Justice
Following its communication of 2 December 2020 on the digitalisation of justice in the EU (→ see seperate news item), the Commission has published a consultation on the digitalisation of cross-border criminal and civil proceedings. The consultation is running until 11 May 2021 and … Read more
EU
Legislation