Corruption is a major challenge for the European Union (EU), with all its Member States affected by the problem to some extent. The EU has gradually adopted laws addressing a range of corruption-related issues. However, the current legal framework remains patchy, the lack of minimum rules on the definition of criminal offences and sanctions in the area of corruption being one important missing element. Recently, corruption-related issues have been addressed almost exclusively within the EU rule of law framework, a development criticised by various stakeholders, including the European Parliament.

EPRS Policy Podcast: Combating corruption in the European Union

Deepfakes (AI-manipulated media) are flooding the internet and altering reality. They influence the way certain events or statements are perceived and generate tensions by artificially creating misconceptions. Criminal offences have already been committed using this technique. Since the web operates worldwide, this creates challenges for local, national and supranational legal systems. Therefore, action is also required at the EU level.

Deepfakes - EN

Faced with a growing international terrorist threat, the European Union (EU) is playing an ever more ambitious role in counter-terrorism.&nbsp;Even though primary responsibility for combating crime and ensuring security lies with the Member States, the EU provides cooperation, coordination and (to some extent) harmonisation tools, as well as financial support, to address this borderless phenomenon.

EU spending in the area of counter-terrorism has increased over the years and is set to grow in the future, to allow for better cooperation between national law enforcement authorities and enhanced support by the EU bodies in charge of security, such as Europol and eu-LISA.

The action plan to reinforce the fight against the financing of terrorism focuses on two main strands of action: tracing terrorists through financial movements and preventing them from moving funds or other assets and disrupting the sources of revenue used by terrorist organisations, by targeting their capacity to raise funds.

In April the European Parliament adopted a new regulation that will target content such as texts, images, sound recordings or videos, including live transmissions, that incite, solicit or contribute to terrorist offences, provide instructions for such offences or solicit people to participate in a terrorist group. It will also cover material that provides guidance on how to make and use explosives, firearms and other weapons for terrorist purposes.

Hosting service providers will have to remove or disable access to flagged terrorist content in all member states within one hour of receiving a removal order from the competent authority. Member states will adopt rules on penalties, the degree of which will take into account the nature of the breach and the size of company responsible.

Fight against terrorism

Security, fight against terrorism and defence are topics of utmost importance and where the European Parliament has been active in passing new laws to help us face challenges in these fields. Important to name in this regard is the PNR directive. This directive regulates the use of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data in the EU for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime.

#EUelections2019 -  PNR

Parliament is set to approve new rules aiming to protect the environment in the EU through criminal law.

Following a debate on Monday, MEPs are expected to give their final green light to a new directive on environmental crime, as agreed with the member states in November 2023, on Tuesday. The new law provides an updated list of environmental crimes including illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources or breaches of EU chemicals legislation. It also introduces the so-called qualified offence of causing the destruction of an ecosystem, such as large-scale forest fires, and thus comparable to ecocide.

Individual offenders, including company representatives, can face prison sentences of up to five or ten years depending on the severity of the crime. They will also be required to reinstate the environment they destroyed and compensate for the damage. Companies can also face fines of up to 5% of their worldwide turnover or 40 million euro.

Background

The new legislation aims to tackle the rising number of environmental crimes in the EU. Environmental crime is the fourth largest criminal activity in the world and is one of the main sources of income for organised crime alongside drugs, weapons and human trafficking.

Press conference -  Environmental crime directive

The impact of the announced reform of the criminal code on Slovakia’s efforts to fight corruption is debated with Commission and Council. On 6 December, the new Slovak government tabled a draft law to overhaul the country’s penal code. If approved by its parliament, the special prosecutor’s office dealing with the most serious crimes and corruption would be dismantled. The government also intends to soften penalties for corruption offences. Several investigators and police officers looking into corruption charges have already faced repercussions from the new government, such as being dismissed, suspended or sidelined from these investigations. Prime Minister Robert Fico wants the draft law to be adopted under the urgency procedure. Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová has already said she would veto the law. Critics have warned that dismantling the special prosecutor’s office could have an impact on the ongoing investigation into the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová in 2018.

Debate - Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law

EP Plenary session - Definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures

Proposals for Union acts

Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response (debate)

Resumption of the sitting

Formal sitting – 20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement

Voting time

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

The attack on climate and nature: far right and conservative attempts to destroy the Green Deal and prevent investment in our future (topical debate)

Amending Directive 2013/36/EU as regards supervisory powers, sanctions, third-country branches, and environmental, social and governance risks - Amending Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 as regards requirements for credit risk, credit valuation adjustment risk, operational risk, market risk and the output floor (joint debate - Banking Union)

The sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive - Anti-Money Laundering Regulation - Establishing the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (joint debate - Anti-money laundering)

The European Parliament's right of inquiry (debate)

Voting time (continuation)

La Hulpe declaration on the future of social Europe (debate)

Forging a sustainable future together: economic, social and territorial challenges for a competitive, cohesive and inclusive Europe (debate)

Recent attempts to deny dictatorships and the risk of Europe returning to totalitarianism (debate)

Azerbaijan, notably the repression of civil society and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and Ilhamiz Guliyev

The proposed repeal of the law banning female genital mutilation in The Gambia

The new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John

The anti-LGBTIQ bill passed by the Ghanaian parliament with implications for human rights, freedom of expression and democratic principles (debate)

Advance passenger information: enhancing and facilitating external border controls - Advance passenger information: prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime (joint debate - Advance passenger information)

Explanations of vote

Agenda of the next sitting

20240424-0900-PLENARY

Closure of the sitting

Plenary session

Statements by the President

Composition of political groups

Composition of Parliament

Follow-up to a request for the defence of immunity

Composition of committees and delegations

Calendar of part-sessions of the Parliament - 2025

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79)

Order of business

Horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (debate)

Substantiation and communication of explicit environmental claims (Green Claims Directive) (debate)

Energy performance of buildings (recast) (debate)

Definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures (debate)

Liability for defective products (short presentation)

Amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 as regards the digital labelling of EU fertilising products (short presentation)

European Maritime Safety Agency and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 (short presentation)

Amending the Directive on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes (short presentation)

20240311-0900-PLENARY

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Opening of the sitting

Amendment of the agenda

Request for waiver of immunity

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 29-30 June 2023, in particular in the light of recent steps towards concluding the Migration Pact (debate)

Council and Commission statements - Preparation of the European Council meeting of 29-30 June 2023

Council and Commission statements - The electoral law, the investigative committee and the rule of law in Poland

The electoral law, the investigative committee and the rule of law in Poland (debate)

Formal sitting - Address by Vjosa Osmani, President of the Republic of Kosovo

Welcome

Surrogacy in the EU - risks of exploitation and commercialisation (topical debate)

Investigation of the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware - Investigation of the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (Recommendation) (debate)

Make Europe the place to invest (debate)

Lessons learnt from the Pandora Papers and other revelations (debate)

Implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (debate)

Extension of the mandate of the EPPO with regard to the criminal offence of  violation of Union restrictive measures (debate)

Torture and criminal prosecution of Ukrainian minors Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov by the Russian Federation (debate)

Humanitarian situation in Sudan, in particular the death of children trapped by fighting (debate)

Deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, notably the case of Jimmy Lai (debate)

Cross-border exchange of information on road safety related traffic offences

EP Plenary session - Oral question - Extension of the mandate of the EPPO with regard to the criminal offence of violation of Union restrictive measures

LIBE Committee - Votes on Data protection :   - General Data Protection Regulation - Albrecht report  - Protection of personal data for the purposes of prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences - Lauristin report

LIBE Committee meeting  Personal data protection: processing and free movement of data (General Data Protection Regulation) and processing of data for the purposes of prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties (COD) - discussion on the state of play of trilogue negotiations, rapporteurs ALBRECHT and LAURISTIN    Use of Passenger Name Record data (EU PNR) (COD), discussion on the state of play of trilogue negotiations, rapporteur KIRKHOPE

Plenary session week 7 2015 in Strasbourg - Cross-border exchange of information on road safety related traffic offences

Hearing of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on combating sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography.

LIBE committee meeting with national parliaments on public provocation to commit terrorist offences.

MEPs debate on the following topics: The subscription by the EU to additional shares in the capital of the EBRD; Regulation (EU) No 2022/869 of the EP and of the Council; Industrial Emissions Directive; Industrial Emissions Portal; Definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures; Amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating; Use of railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area; Amending certain financial services and investment; Energy performance of buildings; Horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements; Green Claims Directive; Liability for defective products; Amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 as regards the digital labelling of EU fertilising products; European Maritime Safety Agency; Council decision inviting Member States to ratify the Violence and Harassment Convention; and Extending Rule 168 of EP's rules.

Voting session, including the final vote on the Energy performance of buildings Directive

Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), rapporteur, holds a press conference on the Environmental crime directive. Parliament is set to approve new rules aiming to protect the environment in the EU through criminal law. Following a debate on Monday, MEPs are expected to give their final green light to a new directive on environmental crime, as agreed with the member states in November 2023, on Tuesday. The new law provides an updated list of environmental crimes including illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources or breaches of EU chemicals legislation. It also introduces the so-called qualified offence of causing the destruction of an ecosystem, such as large-scale forest fires, and thus comparable to ecocide. Individual offenders, including company representatives, can face prison sentences of up to five or ten years depending on the severity of the crime. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), rapporteur on the Environmental crime directive

MEPs give their final green light to a new directive on environmental crime, as agreed with the Member States in November 2023. The new law provides an updated list of environmental crimes including illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources or breaches of EU chemicals legislation. It also introduces the so-called qualified offence of causing the destruction of an ecosystem, such as large-scale forest fires, and thus comparable to ecocide. Short presentation of the topic.

Short presentations - Report: Antonius Manders (A9-0087/2023) - Protection of the environment through criminal law

This infoclip illustrates the new rules that provide an updated list of acts related to the environment that qualify as criminal offences at EU level and of the related sanctions, to ensure a more effective enforcement of EU environmental legislation. This item shows extracts from Iaw suits, courts, ecosystems, invasive species, forest fires, environmental pollution, water waste and treatment, ships and gas companies.

Infoclip: Environmental protection through criminal law

MEPs debate the impact of the announced reform of the criminal code on Slovakia’s efforts to fight corruption. On 6 December, the new Slovak government tabled a draft law to overhaul the country’s penal code. If approved by its parliament, the special prosecutor’s office dealing with the most serious crimes and corruption would be dismantled. The government also intends to soften penalties for corruption offences. Several investigators and police officers looking into corruption charges have already faced repercussions from the new government, such as being dismissed, suspended or sidelined from these investigations. Closing statement Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, and Commissioner for Competition (ad interim) and Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union.

Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law: Closing statement Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice and Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU

MEPs debate the impact of the announced reform of the criminal code on Slovakia’s efforts to fight corruption. On 6 December, the new Slovak government tabled a draft law to overhaul the country’s penal code. If approved by its parliament, the special prosecutor’s office dealing with the most serious crimes and corruption would be dismantled. The government also intends to soften penalties for corruption offences. Several investigators and police officers looking into corruption charges have already faced repercussions from the new government, such as being dismissed, suspended or sidelined from these investigations.

Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law: MEPs debate

MEPs debate the impact of the announced reform of the criminal code on Slovakia’s efforts to fight corruption. On 6 December, the new Slovak government tabled a draft law to overhaul the country’s penal code. If approved by its parliament, the special prosecutor’s office dealing with the most serious crimes and corruption would be dismantled. The government also intends to soften penalties for corruption offences. Several investigators and police officers looking into corruption charges have already faced repercussions from the new government, such as being dismissed, suspended or sidelined from these investigations.Opening statement by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice, and Commissioner for Competition (ad interim). This transcription is a result of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law: opening statement by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU and Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

MEPs vote on the following topics: Ecodesign regulation - Alessandra Moretti; Fees and charges payable to the European Medicines Agency - Report: Cristian-Silviu Buşoi; Fishing in the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Agreement area - Ladislav Ilčić; Digital information exchange in terrorism cases - Patryk Jaki; Exchange of information and cooperation concerning terrorist offences: alignment with Union rules on the protection of personal data - Patryk Jaki.

Voting session on Ecodesign regulation and other topics

This Infoclip illustrates person using virtual currency platform, person stocking and handling works of art and person sourcing pre-paid cards online.

Infoclip: Anti-money laundering & countering terrorism financing: with infographics

This video infoclip illustrates different aspects of plastics: plastic bags use in supermarkets, littering by plastic bags, collection of maritime waste and recycling of plastics. From 00:07:03 to 00:07:42: © The Associated Press - The material is offered for the purpose of providing information and/or education on the European Union until 30/11/2020. The assignment to a third part is not allowed. For any other uses contact AP - www.aparchives.com

Infoclip: Plastics

Meeting of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on Data protection during the EP plenary session in Strasbourg. Votes on General Data Protection Regulation, report by Jan Philipp ALBRECHT (Greens/EFA, DE) and on Protection of personal data for the purposes of prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences, report by Marju LAURISTIN (S&D, EE)

Data protection: extracts from the votes on the reports by Jan Philipp ALBRECHT (Greens/EFA, DE) and by by Marju LAURISTIN (S&D, EE)

Gone are the days of getting off scot free from careless driving abroad. The EU is stepping up cross-border efforts to save lives lost needlessly to traffic offences.

Road hogs be warned!

MEPs vote on new rules to help identify foreign drivers caught breaking the rules and debate quotas which would bring more women into company boardrooms.

The News: Traffic offences - Boardroom quotas

Tracking down drivers who commit traffic offences abroad will become easier as MEPs vote on plans to improve information exchange between European police forces.

Safer roads for all

The EU proposes to crack down on cross-border traffic offences by making it easier to identify the offending drivers.

Closing in on reckless drivers

Identifying cross-border traffic offenders is set to become easier, and Finns approach the EP with a petition against a planned nuclear power plant.

The News: Cross-border driving offences - Anti-nuclear petitions

Speeding tickets may soon catch up with you: drivers who commit offences in other EU countries may be forced to pay their fines in their country of residence.

Reporter: Ending impunity on Europe’s roads

Wayward drivers who commit offences abroad may soon have to pay the fines when they get home thanks to new European data-sharing system.

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