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New EU legislation was put in place to strengthen administrative cooperation in the field of VAT fraud. It will meet needs in order to combat cross-border VAT fraud more effectively and in a more timely manner.

According to a report by the ECA, the implementation of the new IT systems for the Customs Union suffered a series of delays. As a result, some of the key systems will not be available by the envisaged 2020 deadline. The auditors caution that the rescheduled deadline is also at risk of not being met.

In November 2018, Eurojust issued an update of its overview of the case law of the CJEU with regard to the application of Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA of 13 June 2002 on the European arrest warrant and surrender procedures between Member States (FD EAW).

On 5 October 2018, the Internet news channel “DutchNews.nl” reported that the Amsterdam District Court stopped surrender of a Polish national to Poland (for the time being) because of “major doubts about the independence of the Polish judiciary.”

In November 2018, the German Bar Association (DAV) tabled a position paper on the Commission proposal for a directive on the protection of whistleblowers. The DAV welcomed the introduction of EU-wide minimum rules for persons reporting breaches of Union law, but also sees room for improvement.

On 19 November 2018, EUROCADRES – the trade union organisation representing professionals and managers – termed the Commission initiative on the protection of whistleblowers (COM(2018) 218 final) a “surprisingly good start.”

On 18 October 2018, the Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an opinion on the Commission’s plans to strengthen the protection of whistleblowers at the EU level. The EESC mainly concludes that whistleblower protection is an important tool to help companies address unlawful and unethical acts. It calls on the Commission to review the legal basis for the planned directive.

The ECA examined the Commission proposal for a directive on the protection of whistleblowers. It generally welcomes the legislative initiative, but believes that the Directive could become too complex and possibly ineffective in some points.

On 20 November 2018, MEPs from the Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) adopted their position on the Commission proposal for a directive on the protection of whistleblowers (COM(2018) 218 final).

On 24 October 2018, the plenary of the European Parliament backed the position of the LIBE Committee regarding legislative proposals on the interoperability between EU information systems in the area of justice and home affairs. EP negotiators have now green light to enter into informal talks with the Council and the Commission.