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This news item continues the reporting on key EU/CoE reactions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022: the impact on the protection of the EU’s financial interests, on the EU’s internal security policy, and on criminal law. It covers the period from November 2025 to February 2026 and follows up the overview in eucrim 2/2025, 114-118.

On 3 December 2025, the Council of Europe opened the Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law (CETS No. 228) for signature, marking a significant step in the development of international legal tools to address environmental crime. The new convention seeks to strengthen criminal justice responses to serious environmental harm and promote closer cooperation between states in the investigation and prosecution of such offences.

On 5 February 2026, the ECJ annulled the EP's decisions waiving the immunity of Catalan politicians because the appointment of the rapporteur responsible for the requests for waiver of immunity contravened the requirement of impartiality.

On 26 February 2026, the European Commission presented a proposal for an EU Directive on combating firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences. The initiative proposes common definitions of criminal offences and penalties. It also includes a component on strengthening cross-border cooperation by National Firearms Focal Points.

Compiling contributions from academics, legal practitioners, and officials from public authorities, the collective book "Strengthening the Future of the European Public Prosecutor's Office" is available open access in the library of publisher Nomos. The contributions build on discussions held during workshops at the Villa …

On 11 March 2026, the European Parliament (EP) approved a revised Framework Agreement between the EP and the European Commission. The revision further develops an existing 2010 Agreement, reflecting more than a decade of institutional practice, and the evolution of the EP's role during that time.

On 7 December 2025, the EU celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. A conference was organised on 10-11 December 2025 in which participants reflected on the impact of the Charter and discussed its future.

The EU-India strategic agenda, endorsed on 27 January 2026, includes commitments to a number of projects designed to significantly deepen and broaden cooperation between the two partners in the fields of justice and home affairs in the coming years.

AG Medina provided her views on the interpretation and scope of the speciality rule, a basic safeguard in extradition law, as set out in the TCA. The requested EU Member States may classify the UK's "contempt of court" as criminal offence and apply the speciality rule if the issuing authority does not provide adequate safeguards.

In its judgment of 18 December 2025 in Case C-325/24 (Bissilli), the ECJ ruled that a European Investigation Order (EIO) can be issued for the temporary transfer or for a videoconference hearing of an accused person held in custody abroad, if the EIO has an evidential objective and is necessary for the purpose of gathering evidence. The judges in Luxembourg also clarified the relationship between the various refusal grounds set out in Directive 2014/41.