The scale and impact of ransomware attacks have increased significantly over the past years, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the success of criminal investigations and prosecutions depends more than ever on close cross-border cooperation between public authorities, private companies and victims. Public-private cooperation is particularly valuable in such cases, as companies […]
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Defence and security of the European Union
In today’s world, security issues require ever-increasing attention. The Czech Presidency is fully aware of this and intends to take decisive steps to improve the resilience of the European Union in the areas of conventional capabilities and new domains. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the importance of building the resilience and defence capabilities […]
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Ukraine: Commission consults Member States on proposal to amend State aid Temporary Crisis Framework
The European Commission has sent to Member States for consultation a draft proposal to adjust the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework, initially adopted on 23 March 2022 to support the economy in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In view of the prolonged invasion by Russia of Ukraine and of its direct and indirect […]
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EU launches the Support Hub for Internal Security and Border Management in Moldova
Yesterday, in the margins of the informal Home Affairs Council Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson and the Moldovan Minister of Internal Affairs, Ana Revenco launched the EU Support Hub for Internal Security and Border Management in Moldova. As an operational platform, the EU Support Hub will support cooperation on internal security and border management between […]
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Criminal network that smuggled migrants across Europe dismantled
Eurojust has assisted authorities in the Czech Republic, Belgium, Poland, Germany and Hungary in dismantling an organised crime group (OCG) that was involved in migrant smuggling. During an action, nine suspects were arrested and nine locations were searched. Eurojust provided financial support and assisted the authorities in setting up a joint investigation team (JIT). According […]
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Antitrust: Commission sends Statement of Objections to Alcogroup and Agroetanol over alleged ethanol benchmarks cartel
The European Commission has informed Alcogroup S.A. and its subsidiary Alcodis S.A. (together ‘Alcogroup’) as well as Lantmännen ek för and its subsidiary Lantmännen Agroetanol AB (together ‘Agroetanol’) of its preliminary view that, together with Abengoa S.A. (‘Abengoa’), which settled the case in December 2021, they have breached EU antitrust rules. The Commission considers that […]
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EU and UNDP support launch of psychological assistance hotline for Ukrainians affected by war
With EU funding, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine has supported the launch of a hotline to provide psychological assistance to Ukrainians affected by the war. The initiative to establish this hotline for the provision of first-hand psychological care came from the National Psychological Association of Ukraine, which is implementing it. The line […]
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Kremlin’s Never-Ending Thirst for Death and Devastation
Pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets continue to call immense human suffering liberation and the ruins temporarily fallen into Russian hands tokens of glorious victory. Similarly, without any hesitation, Kremlin spin-doctors turn a terror strike against a shopping mall with Soviet-era cruise missiles loaded with one-ton warheads a surgical precision attack against a justified military target. Russian mouthpieces […]
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Ukraine: Commission waives customs duties and VAT
The European Commission has today adopted a Decision enabling Member States to temporarily waive customs duties and VAT on the importation from third countries of food, blankets, tents, electric generators and other life-saving equipment destined for Ukrainians affected by the war. This measure, which was requested by Member States, will apply retroactively from 24 February […]
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