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.

EU passes new law on environmental crime — 03 April 2024, 00:33 CET

The EU Council formally adopted Wednesday a new law to protect the environment through criminal law, to improve the investigation and prosecution of environmental crime offences.

EU guidelines to guard against 'systemic risks' online for Euro-elections — 27 March 2024, 23:35 CET

The Commission published guidelines Tuesday to help large online platforms mitigate systemic risks online that may impact the integrity of upcoming elections.

EU set for tighter rules on gun control — 14 March 2024, 18:14 CET

The European Parliament and EU Council reached provisional political agreement Thursday on an updating of rules to trace import and export of civilian firearms more effectively.

EU transfer of proceedings law to help fight cross-border crime — 07 March 2024, 22:56 CET

The Belgian EU presidency and European Parliament reached political agreement Wednesday on a proposed EU law related to the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters.

EU moves to bolster cyber security capacities — 06 March 2024, 23:40 CET

The EU Parliament and Council reached provisional agreement Wednesday on the Cyber Solidarity Act to strengthen the EU's capacities to prepare for, detect and respond to cybersecurity threats.

Euro-Parliament extends list of environmental crimes — 27 February 2024, 22:52 CET

MEPs extended the list of environmental crimes Tuesday to include illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources, and serious breaches of EU chemicals legislation and pollution caused by ships.

EU beefs up fight against money laundering, terrorist financing — 18 January 2024, 23:03 CET

The European Parliament finalised a deal with the EU Council Thursday on new measures to beef up an EU toolkit to fight money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions evasion.

EU tightens cybersecurity defence around its institutions — 08 January 2024, 18:35 CET

The EU's new cybersecurity regulation which lays down measures for a high level of common cybersecurity at the Union's institutions, bodies, offices and agencies came into force on 7 January.

New EU rules on cross-border payments in force 1 January — 03 January 2024, 23:21 CET

New transparency rules on cross-border payments designed to help EU Member States' tax administrations crack down on Value-Added Tax (VAT) fraud came into force on 1 January.

EU sets up new authority to combat money laundering — 14 December 2023, 22:58 CET

The European Parliament and EU Council reached provisional agreement Wednesday to create a new European authority for countering money laundering and financing of terrorism (AMLA).

EU agrees tougher rules on freezing and confiscating criminal assets — 12 December 2023, 22:58 CET

EU Parliament and Council negotiators reached a political agreement Tuesday on EU-wide minimum rules on the tracing, identification, freezing, confiscation and management of criminal property.

EU to strengthen criminal law response to environment crimes — 16 November 2023, 20:49 CET

EU Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional agreement Thursday on an update of EU environmental crimes and sanctions rules to strengthen ecosystem protection.

Horizon Europe deadlines extended following Hamas' terrorist attacks on Israel — 18 October 2023, 23:49 CET

Following Hamas' terrorist attacks across Israel, the Commission decided Wednesday for an exceptional extension of several Horizon Europe call cut-off dates, allowing more time to submit applications.

Commission advances towards enhanced Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online — 12 October 2023, 23:52 CET

An EU Commission High-Level Group concluded Wednesday a two-day discussion on combating hate speech and hate crime, which was dedicated to tackling hatred and intolerance.

Green light for EU law to boost judicial cooperation on terrorism cases — 19 September 2023, 16:46 CET

The EU Council gave its final green light Monday to a law to boost information sharing between states and Eurojust, allowing significant progress in the prosecution of terrorism offences.

Boost for cybersecurity in the EU institutions — 26 June 2023, 23:47 CET

The EU Parliament and Council reached political agreement Monday on a regulation aimed at ensuring a high common level of cybersecurity across the EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies.

MEPs seek to curb use of spyware — 19 June 2023, 17:36 CET

Following a year-long investigation into the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware, the European Parliament outlined Thursday reforms deems necessary to curb spyware abuse.

MEPs vote to speed up recovery of criminal assets — 24 May 2023, 00:13 CET

MEPs in committee approved new legislation on seizing criminal assets Tuesday to ensure fast and efficient freezing operations everywhere in the EU, and quicker compensation for victims.

EU targets corruption crime in Europe and worldwide — 04 May 2023, 22:10 CET

The Commission set out Wednesday a raft of new rules criminalising corruption offences and harmonising penalties across the EU, as well as a sanctions regime to target serious acts of corruption worldwide.

EU proposes new rules on transfer of criminal proceedings — 07 April 2023, 00:10 CET

The European Commission adopted a proposal Thursday for a Regulation which aims to harmonise the rules on transfer of criminal proceedings between EU Member States.

Schengen info systems upgrade now in force — 07 March 2023, 22:18 CET

A strengthened Schengen Information System (SIS) entered into operation Tuesday, with more complete and reliable information to enhance security and border management in Europe.

EU strengthens resilience against cybercrime — 18 January 2023, 23:44 CET

Two EU directives on critical and digital infrastructure entered into force Monday to strengthen EU resilience against online and offline threats from cyberattacks to crime, risks to health or natural disasters.

Ukraine: Commission proposes to criminalise sanctions violations — 02 December 2022, 21:07 CET

As Russia continues its aggression on Ukraine, the European Union put forward Friday a proposal to harmonise criminal offences and penalties for the violation of EU restrictive measures.

EU weighs up options for Russia to pay for its crimes — 30 November 2022, 23:16 CET

The European Commission presented the EU Council with a number of options Wednesday to make sure Russia is held accountable for the atrocities and crimes committed during its war in Ukraine.

Europe prepares for cyberattacks with large-scale simulations — 09 November 2022, 18:13 CET

Senior cybersecurity representatives of EU states, the Commission and the EU's cybersecurity agency took part Monday in a two-day large-scale exercise to test crisis management procedures.