The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council to reinforce Europol’s role and inter-agency cooperation in the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings. This regulation was proposed by the Commission in November 2023. The fight against migrant smuggling is a Commission priority, as President von der […]
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EU backs measures to boost security and defence investments
As part of the ReArm Europe Plan, the measures aim to strengthen Europe’s defence technological and industrial base by channelling EU funding to defence and security. The legislation adopted in the Industry, Research and Energy committee will increase funding for defence-related investment by amending existing EU programmes – the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), Horizon Europe, […]
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Commission plans €150B SAFE funding to boost Defence Readiness
Last September 9, the European Commission adopted the tentative allocation of €150 billion in financial assistance to strengthen defence readiness across the Union. This major step, taken under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, is designed to boost the EU’s defence capabilities and help Member States address critical gaps, as well as to purchase defence […]
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Spain dismantles criminal network smuggling migrants from Algeria to the EU
The Spanish Guardia Civil, supported by Europol, dismantled a criminal network smuggling migrants by boats from Algeria to Spain and onwards to other EU countries. The network, led by a Moroccan national, was comprised of both Algerian and Moroccan suspects based in Spain. Their operations relied on significant financial and logistical resources, misusing legitimate businesses […]
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Stronger customs controls and cooperation on product compliance
A European Commission report about customs controls on product compliance at the EU’s external borders recognises the efforts of customs authorities while highlighting the need for improved customs controls and cooperation, in particular to deal with the rapid growth of e-commerce. Imported products, including those purchased online, unfortunately do not always comply with EU rules regarding safety, […]
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Commission finds Temu likely breached Digital Services Act over illegal products
Last July 28, the Commission preliminarily found Temu in breach of the obligation under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to properly assess the risks of illegal products being disseminated on its marketplace. Evidence showed that there is a high risk for consumers in the EU to encounter illegal products on the platform. Specifically, the analysis […]
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Combating crime in the digital age: from the physical world to cyberspace
With European Union citizens spending up to half of their waking hours online, criminals are increasingly abusing this domain. Criminal actors exploit the existing digital infrastructure to its fullest, leveraging technology and online systems to facilitate illegal activities while evading law enforcement. To prevent online communities from becoming lawless spaces, police forces will have to […]
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28 ‘Ndrangheta associates arrested for drug trafficking and violence
Europol has supported Italian law enforcement in dealing a heavy blow to the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organisation. In an action day conducted on 8 July 2025 across Italy, Spain and Albania, special intervention teams have arrested 28 suspected criminals of Italian and Albanian nationality. Among the individuals taken into custody is an Italian national from the […]
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Two-way migrant smuggling network busted in France and Spain
Europol supported the French National Police (Police Nationale/OLTIM Perpignan) and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional/UCRIF Central) in dismantling an organised criminal network smuggling migrants of Algerian and Moroccan origin from Spain to France as well as in the opposite direction, from the United Kingdom to Spain. In addition to the arrests made in Spain […]
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