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OLAF Investigations in Illegal Funding of Construction Works Lead to Indictments in Hungary
On 27 October 2020, OLAF reported that Hungarian public prosecutors had indicted four Hungarians for having pocketed more than €1.7 million in EU and Hungarian funding by illegally overpricing the costs for the renovation of children's playgrounds in Hungarian municipalities. An investigation, which was opened … Read more
Thomas Wahl
EU
OLAF
Successful Judicial Follow-Up of OLAF Operation
Three persons who siphoned off more than €1.4 million from the EU’s Research and Innovation fund have been sentenced to jail. They were convicted in Genoa/Italy at first instance as a judicial follow-up of OLAF’s operation “Paper Castle” (eucrim 1/2018, 8-9), OLAF reported on … Read more
EU
OLAF
OLAF Activity Report 2019
In September 2020, OLAF published its activity report for 2019. In 2019, OLAF celebrated its 20th anniversary to commemorate its establishment in 1999. The report shows the wide range of OLAF’s operational activities, such as fraud affecting humanitarian aid, the environment, agricultural and regional … Read more
EU
OLAF
Spotlight OLAF and Europol Cooperation on New Footing
OLAF and Europol agreed on a new working arrangement. The arrangement entered into force on 9 October 2020 and replaces the administrative agreement between the two bodies of 2004. The working arrangement lays the basis for the exchange of operational, tactical, strategic, and technical information, … Read more
EU
OLAF
Europol
Commission: Interim Report on Consultation of AI White Paper
The Commission issued a first summary report of its consultation on the White Paper on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the first half of 2020. For the White Paper à eucrim 1/2020, 8-9] . The consultation focused on three distinct aspects:Specific actions for the … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Legislation
Studies on the Digitalisation of Justice
On 14 September 2020, the Commission published two studies on the digitalisation of justice. The studies support the Commission in identifying areas where there is a need for coordinated action at the EU level.The study on “cross-border digital criminal justice“ identified the needs … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Council Conclusions on Digitalisation in Relation to Access of Justice
On 13 October 2020, the Council adopted conclusions on digitalisation in order to improve access to justice. The conclusions observe that further digitalisation of the Member States’ judicial systems has enormous potential to continue to facilitate and improve access to justice for citizens throughout … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
German Council Presidency Conclusion on Fundamental Rights and AI
On 21 October 2020, the German Council Presidency published presidency conclusions on the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the context of artificial intelligence and digital change. The EU should ensure that fundamental rights are always respected when using, developing, deploying or designing artificial intelligence … Read more
EU
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
CJEU Judgment on the Right to Judicial Review in Tax Cooperation
On 6 October 2020, the CJEU delivered its judgment in Joined Cases C-245/19 (Luxembourg State v B) and C-246/19 (Luxembourg State v B and Others).The background of the preliminary ruling (brought by the Higher Administrative Court, Luxembourg) is a request … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Protection of Financial Interests
Tax Evasion
Law Enforcement Cooperation
Romania: Rule-of-Law Events
Next to Poland and Hungary, Romania has become the subject of increased rule-of-law scrutiny by EU institutions. The main recent developments are:23 September 2020: Romania is likely to be defeated in the judicial reform dispute. Advocate General Bobek concludes that the interim appointment of … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
Hungary: Update on Rule-of-Law Developments
The following continues the overview in recent eucrim issues regarding the clash between the EU and Hungary on maintenance of the rule of law (eucrim 2/2020, 69 and eucrim 1/2020, 4).12 August 2020: Following up their ad hoc analysis of 27 May … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
Poland: Rule-of-Law Concerns Continue
This news item continues the overview provided in previous eucrim issues (eucrim 2/2020, 68 and eucrim 1/2020, 2) on the struggle between the EU and Poland as regards maintenance of the rule of law.August 2020: The Civil Development Forum (FOR) publishes the … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
First Assessment of Rule of Law Report between MEPs and National Parliamentarians
On 10 November 2020, MEPs in the LIBE Committee discussed the Commission’s first Rule of Law report (separate news item) together with Didier Reynders, Justice Commissioner, and Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe as representative of the German Council Presidency. In … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
EP Wants New Strong Rule-of-Law Mechanism
On 7 October 2020, a large majority of MEPs voted in favour of the Resolution on the establishment of an EU Mechanism on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights. The Resolution was adopted with 521 to 152 votes and 21 abstentions. The EP … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
Council Launches Rule of Law Dialogue
On the basis of the Commission’s first Rule of Law Report of 30 September 2020, the General Affairs Council (GAC) launched the annual “Rule of Law Dialogue” at its meeting on 13 October 2020. Following the concept outlined in the Commission’s report, the German Council … Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law
Spotlight Commission’s First Rule of Law Report
On 30 September 2020, the Commission presented its first Rule of Law Report. The report aims to highlight the most important – positive and negative – developments within the EU and in the individual Member States. Read more
EU
Fundamental Rights
Rule of Law