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At its meeting on 13 June 2025, the Council identified seven EU crime priorities for the EMPACT cycle 2026-2029. EMPACT stands for the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats. It introduces an integrated approach to EU internal security.

The Kingdom of Denmark assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2025. Under the slogan “A Strong Europe in a changing world!”, the programme of the Danish Presidency has two overarching priorities: a secure Europe and a competitive and green Europe.

Dear Readers, Over two decades have passed since the EU’s first attempt to harmonise procedural rights in criminal proceedings across the bloc. The 2009 Roadmap, adopted under the Swedish Council Presidency, led to six key directives: on interpretation and translation, information rights, access to a lawyer, presumption of innocence and the right to be present at trial, safeguards for children, and legal aid. Two recommendations followed, addressing vulnerable persons and pre-trial detention conditions. Yet, despite these advances, the EU still lacks a coherent and equal system of procedural rights. While the existing instruments might give the impression of a developing…

On 9 July 2025, approximately nine months after jurisdiction to rule on references for a preliminary ruling was conferred on it, the General Court of the European Union delivered its first preliminary ruling judgment. The case concerned the recovery of excise duties and the compatibility of Croatian law with an EC Directive.