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Joint Strike against Medicine Trafficking
On 10 December 2020, the public was informed of the operation “Shield” carried out between March and September 2020. The operation resulted in the seizure of medicines and doping substances worth €73 million all over Europe. Nearly 700 persons were arrested, 25 organised criminal groups … Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
OLAF
OLAF Hub for Seizure of Contaminated Hand Sanitisers
Thanks to OLAF, information about contaminated hand sanitisers from a manufacturer in Turkey could be spread among EU law enforcement authorities and shipments dismantled. In August 2020, Danish authorities first detected the contaminated sanitisers and reported to OLAF. The EU’s anti-fraud office immediately informed other … Read more
EU
OLAF
Long-Term Operation Dismantles Illegal Cigarette Trade Scheme
On 21 December 2020, OLAF reported that the final phase of a long-term trans-European operation against illegal cigarette smuggling and production ended by raids in Romania, Hungary and Italy. The operation dubbed “Kharon” started three years ago and targeted the carriers of the precursors for … Read more
EU
OLAF
Operation between EU and UK Reveals Excise Duty Fraud with Cigarettes
On 21 December 2020, OLAF and Europol reported on a successful European-wide joint operation against fraudulent trade in cigarettes. The operation took place in November 2020 and involved 15 EU Member States and the UK. Europol and OLAF facilitated the operation by intelligence analyses, … Read more
EU
OLAF
Spotlight OLAF’s New Amended Legal Framework
OLAF received a new legal framework. New Regulation 2020/2223 amends the current Regulation 883/2013 and adapts OLAF's operational work to the establishment of the EPPO, enhances the effectiveness of OLAF's investigations and simplifies/clarifies certain current provisions. Read more
EU
OLAF
Last Justice Council under German Presidency Focused on Justice Aspects of Countering Terrorism
At the videoconference of the Ministers of Justice of the EU Member States on 2 December 2020 – the last Justice Council meeting that was chaired by the German Presidency – participants above all discussed justice-related aspects in the fight against terrorism and the development … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Council
Spotlight Commission Proposes New Regulations on Responsibilities of Digital Services
On 15 December 2020, the Commission tabled two important proposals that will establish horizontal, harmonised rules on governing digital services in the EU. They are part of the European Digital Strategy, Shaping Europe’s Digital Future; the package will complement the European Democracy Action Plan … Read more
EU
Legislation
Strengthening the Schengen Area: Schengen Forum Meets for the First Time
35 years ago, on 14 June 1985, France, Germany and the three Benelux States signed the Schengen Agreement that removed internal border controls between those Member States. Today, the Schengen area encompasses 26 European states with over 400 million citizens. Since several years, the area … Read more
EU
Schengen
Commission Report on the Functioning of the Schengen Area over the Past 5 Years
Ahead of the newly created Schengen Forum (--> separate news item), the Commission published a report on 25.11.2020 on the implementation of the Schengen acquis rules and the functioning of the Schengen Evaluation and Monitoring Mechanism between 2015 and 2019. The current Schengen Evaluation and … Read more
EU
Schengen
E-Evidence Package: EP Paves Way for Trilogue Negotiations
In December 2020, the EP adopted its position on the contentious Commission proposals on gathering electronic evidence at IT companies. Now, trilogue negotiations can start between the EP, the Council and the Commission. Read more
EU
e-Evidence
Law Enforcement Cooperation
Council Conclusions on Internal Security and European Police Partnership
On 14 December 2020, the Council adopted conclusions on internal security and European Police Partnership. They are designed to give further political guidance on improvements in the field of law enforcement cooperation, future reactions to security challenges, and use of the potential of evolving … Read more
EU
Security Union
Police Cooperation
Spotlight EP Resolution on EU Security Union Strategy
In a non-legislative resolution of 17 December 2020 the EP has givem an important political statement on the EU’s future security policy. The EP reacts to the Commission's new EU Security Union Strategy presented in July 2020. MEPs stress that any new legislative proposal must be accompanied by a thorough and comprehensive impact assessment, especially on fundamental rights and risks of discrimination. Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Security Union
ECA Journal 3/2020 with Focus on Realising European Added Value
In the European Court of Auditors’ journal no 3/2020, various authors provide contributions on how European added value can be realised and which challenges are faced in this regard. The journal unites contributions ranging from institutional leaders, e.g. EU Commissioner Elisa Ferreira, ECA President … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
European Training Platform Launched
On 2 December 2020, the Commission launched the test phase of the European Training Platform (ETP). The ETP aims at solving the problem that currently information on judicial training opportunities and training materials is scattered all over the internet. Embedded into the EU’s e-justice … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Legislation
New Strategy on European Judicial Training for 2021-2024
On 2 December 2020, the Commission presented its new strategy on European judicial training for 2021-2024. It follows-up the strategy that was adopted in 2011 and covered the period until 2020. The Commission stresses that judicial training remains high on the EU agenda and … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Legislation
Legal Practitioner Training in 2019
The number of justice professionals trained in EU law or the law of another Member State remains remarkably high. In 2019, over 182,000 justice professionals (judges, prosecutors, court staff, lawyers, bailiffs, and notaries) were trained accordingly. Although this is a slight decrease compared to 2018 … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Legislation