Crime in the EU

European Union crime and justice policy - European judicial cooperation in criminal matters - EU initiatives in in preventing and combating crime in Europe.

Visa checks 'useless against terrorists': Commissioner — 29 October 2012, 20:38 CET

The European Union should make it easier for foreign tourists to visit the bloc, a senior EU Commissioner said on Monday, arguing that ardent visa checks did little to keep determined terrorists out.

Abu Hamza: Hook-handed radical preacher faces US extradition — 05 October 2012, 17:32 CET

With his hooked hand and distinctive appearance, radical preacher Abu Hamza has the highest profile of the five men set to be extradited to the United States to face terror charges.

British computer expert bids to halt US extradition — 04 October 2012, 17:44 CET

Babar Ahmad, a British computer expert accused by the United States of raising funds for terrorism, has launched a High Court bid to halt his extradition, the Judicial Office said on Monday.

British judge freezes Abu Hamza extradition — 26 September 2012, 22:11 CET

A British judge on Wednesday halted the extradition of Abu Hamza to the United States on terror charges after the radical Islamist preacher lodged a last-ditch legal appeal.

Radical cleric Abu Hamza in new British extradition appeal — 26 September 2012, 15:40 CET

Radical Islamist Abu Hamza launched a last-minute legal appeal Wednesday in a British court against extradition to the US, after a European court ruled he could be handed over, an official said.

BBC apologises to queen over Abu Hamza story — 25 September 2012, 17:05 CET

The BBC apologised to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II Tuesday after revealing that she raised concerns with a previous government about radical cleric Abu Hamza, who faces extradition to the United States.

Radical cleric Abu Hamza set for extradition to US — 26 September 2012, 00:05 CET

Britain on Tuesday prepared to hand over radical Muslim preacher Abu Hamza to the United States on terrorism charges after the European Court of Human Rights rejected his final appeal.

Abu Hamza extradition to US backed by Europe rights court — 24 September 2012, 22:22 CET

Britain vowed Monday to hand over radical Muslim preacher Abu Hamza to the United States on terrorism charges as soon as possible after the European Court of Human Rights rejected his final appeal.

Czech Republic bans liquor exports under EU pressure — 20 September 2012, 21:41 CET

The Czech government Thursday banned liquor exports under EU pressure after a wave of poisonings from methanol-tainted bootlegged alcohol killed 23 people and sickened scores more.

EU condemns attacks on new Somali president — 12 September 2012, 23:51 CET

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday condemned the suicide attack against newly elected Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Euro-MPs press East European countries over secret CIA prisons — 11 September 2012, 21:48 CET

European Union Member States accused of having hosted secret CIA jails in the wake of the 9/11 attacks should come clean on the issue, said a resolution approved Tuesday by the European Parliament.

EU rejects Israeli request to blacklist Hezbollah — 24 July 2012, 22:50 CET

The European Union turned down a request Tuesday by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to blacklist Hezbollah as a terror group after last week's deadly bombing in Bulgaria.

Israel to urge EU to blacklist Hezbollah after Burgas blast — 22 July 2012, 21:52 CET

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is to head to Brussels on Monday to press his European Union counterparts to blacklist Hezbollah as a terror group after a deadly bombing in Bulgaria.

Police struggle to identify Bulgaria suicide bomber — 21 July 2012, 14:14 CET

Bulgarian police along with the CIA, FBI and Interpol are struggling to identify a suicide bomber who killed six people, including five Israelis, as the United States said the attack bore the "hallmarks" of Hezbollah.

Blast outside EU office in Argentina: police — 02 May 2012, 00:32 CET

An explosive device blew up early Tuesday outside a building in the Argentine capital that houses the offices of the European Union, causing some damage but no injuries, police said.

Abu Hamza: Hook-handed radical preacher faces US extradition — 10 April 2012, 18:52 CET

With his hooked hand and distinctive appearance, radical preacher Abu Hamza is the best-known of the five men who the European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday could be extradited to the US.

Britain can extradite radical cleric Abu Hamza to US: court — 10 April 2012, 17:51 CET

Britain can extradite jailed radical Muslim preacher Abu Hamza and four other alleged terrorists to the United States, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday.

Belarus executes one Minsk metro bomber — 17 March 2012, 21:07 CET

Belarus has executed one of two convicted Minsk metro bombers, Vladislav Kovalyov, his family said Saturday, sparking strong condemnation from the European Union.

EU condemns Belarus execution — 17 March 2012, 20:37 CET

European Union chief diplomat Catherine Ashton Saturday condemned the execution of one of two men convicted of carrying out a bomb attack in the Minsk underground that left 15 dead and 160 wounded.

EU urges Belarus to halt execution of metro bombers — 16 March 2012, 20:32 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton appealed to Belarus Friday not to execute two men condemned to death for a fatal bombing on the Minsk metro last year.

EU seeks high privacy standards in EU-US data protection agreement — 26 May 2010, 23:35 CET

The European Commission has adopted a draft mandate to negotiate a personal data protection agreement between the European Union and the United States when cooperating to fight terrorism or crime. The agreement would give citizens more rights to manage their data.

EU Attorneys General want to unify criteria to combat cross-border crime — 20 May 2010, 23:17 CET

EU attorneys general are considering the creation of a consultative forum which would enable them to unify criteria and advance towards a common European justice system to combat cross-border crime.

EU moots centre to combat cybercrime in Europe — 26 April 2010, 23:01 CET

The EU on Monday set out plans for a centre to combat cybercrime in Europe. Ministers meeting in Luxembourg proposed the new centre as part of a longer term strategy to cope more effectively with the crimes committed by means of electronic networks.

Illegal cigarette factory in Lithuania raided — 22 April 2010, 23:37 CET

An illegal cigarette factory in Vilnius, capable of producing at least 1000 cigarettes a minute, has been raided and closed down in an operation mounted by Lithuanian Customs supported by OLAF.

Europe strikes against the smuggling of counterfeit goods — 14 April 2010, 00:23 CET

Millions of counterfeit goods have been seized in a European Joint Customs Operation code-named Matthew II, the results of which were published today. The operation was aimed at detecting the smuggling of cigarettes in commercial consignments entering the EU by road.