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A Europol-coordinated operation to take down websites offering counterfeit goods or involved in online piracy resulted in the takedown of 2526 websites, the disconnection of 32 servers used to distribute and host illegal content for 2294 television channels, and the shutdown of 15 online shops …

At the beginning of December 2022, a Joint Investigation Team made up of authorities from Romania, Italy, and the Ukraine - with the support of Eurojust and Europol - dismantled an organised crime group (OCG) suspected of money laundering and CEO and BEC (Business E-Mail …

A working arrangement between OLAF and the Viet Nam Ministry of Finance, signed on 14 December 2022, will facilitate cooperation in illicit trade, customs fraud, etc.

On 2 December 2022, OLAF signed an administrative cooperation working arrangement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It deals with the exchange of information between the two bodies, cooperation in investigative activities, risk analysis and training.

On 2 December 2022, the Commission tabled a proposal for a directive on the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures. It shortly comes after the Council gave green light to add the violation of restrictive measures to the list of "EU crimes" in Art. 83(1) TFEU, which empowers the EU to legislate on harmonised criminal law rules.

On 8 December 2022, the Council adopted a decision on full application of the Schengen acquis in Croatia, but blocked accession of Romania and Bulgaria into the area without internal border checks.

The Council and the European Parliament (on 22 and 23 November 2022, respectively) formally approved the EU budget for 2023. In total, next year's budget amounts to €186.6 billion in commitment appropriations and €168.6 billion in payment appropriations.

On 7 December 2022, the Council adopted its position on the Anti-Money Laundering Regulation and the new (sixth) Anti-Money Laundering Directive. The Council wishes, inter alia, to extend the scope of the AML/CFT Regulation, streamline the listing of high-risk third countries, and harmonise beneficial ownership rules.

On 22 November 2022, the Commission announced that it intends to no longer monitor Romania’s progress in judicial reforms and the fight against corruption under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM). Monitoring will continue under the annual rule of law cycle.

In conclusions adopted on 22 November 2022, the Council stressed the importance of the protection of the EU's financial interests in spending EU money for cohesion policy. Expenditure for cohesion is traditionally the biggest part of the EU budget.