HE organized crime moving about 139,000 euros each yearAccording to the estimates of the European Commission, but only 2.2% assets had frozen In the period 2010-2014 and it was only 1.1% confiscation. This situation may start to change very soon. new legislation who prepares EU.
The European Parliament’s civil liberties commission this Tuesday new legislation To develop seizure of criminal assets This will enable faster and more effective asset freezes and faster compensation for potential victims across the EU.
“It is of paramount importance to deprive criminals of their earnings, limit their ability to reinvest them in the legal economy, and ensure that engaging in criminal activities does not yield results,” said the report’s rapporteur. Romanian conservative Loránt Vincze, to add: “The report expands the scope of the Directive to cover other relevant crimes, strengthens authorities in the detection, freezing and management of assets, expands asset recovery agencies’ access to relevant databases, prioritizes victims’ compensation and enhances cooperation between competent national and EU bodies”.
Asset Recovery and Confiscation
HE European Parliament In December 2021 he called for the harmonization of the EU regime by: asset recovery and confiscation. The Commission recommended strengthening these rules in its EU Strategy (2021-2025) to combat organized crime.
However, European governments did not feel this need until the Russian invasion of Ukraine. improve asset tracking and enforcement. Alongside this proposal, MEPs are working on a law that would harmonize definitions and sanctions for sanctions violations.
broad support
This New legislation adopted with 50 votes in favor, 4 abstentions and 1 vote against, want to speed up attachment And asset confiscation as well as filling legal gaps.
Compared to existing legislation, the new directive also firearm smugglingcertain crimes committed as part of a criminal organization, and Violation of EU sanctionsThat Brussels proposed to decriminalize across the EU last year. MEPs recommend including: illegal trafficking of nuclear materialcrimes within its jurisdiction International Criminal CourtHE illegal seizure and sabotage of aircraft and ships.
The civil liberties commission wants it to cover violations of European sanctions, smuggling of nuclear material, sabotage and crimes under the CFI’s jurisdiction.
Asset Recovery Offices
They also suggest punishing those who run away. confiscation allowing confiscation with the assistance of a third party and in certain cases where conviction is not possible, for example, the illness or death of a suspect. This Members of the European Parliament they also want to ensure that victims are compensated prior to confiscation, particularly in cross-border cases, and allow the confiscated assets to be used for public or social purposes.
In addition, the law will harmonize the authorities’ powers to make cross-border investigations more effective. asset recovery offices It is established by Member States to ensure that they have access to necessary information such as utility property records, securities and currency information, customs data and annual financial statements of the company. To avoid deterioration of assets, Member States will need to set up special offices to manage confiscated assets.
Source: Informacion
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