12 December 2023
The ECR Group welcomes the new rules on freezing and confiscating criminal assets.
The European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament agreed this morning in Strasbourg on a new package of measures to fight organised crime. The new rules will modernise and strengthen existing legislation by extending the range of offences that can be targeted by the law enforcing authorities. Therefore, Member States will be able to identify, freeze and confiscate criminal profits made from terrorism, drug trafficking, arms dealing, smuggling and kidnapping more quickly. Cooperation and exchange of information between Member States will also work more smoothly.
ECR Group shadow rapporteur Assita Kanko said: “Crime must not pay. That’s why we need to make the playing field as dry as possible for criminal gangs. This legislation is a real step forward. Gone are the days when criminals could enjoy their illegal profits with impunity. If we can deprive criminals of their money, we can fight crime effectively.”
Criminal gangs’ incomes in the top nine criminal markets are estimated as having a worth of €139 billion in 2019. This represents around 1 per cent of the European Union’s GDP.
The new legislation is part of the EU’s overall Security Union Strategy 2020-2025. Criminal gang violence is on the rise in Europe and the threat of violent incidents is increasing due to the frequent use of firearms and explosives in public spaces. Kanko highlights the evolving modus operandi of criminal gangs, which requires an adapted and better coordinated response at the European level.
Kanko said:
“Criminal groups are active in all Member States. They are creative, mobile, violent and operate with extensive networks across national borders. Member States are not islands. Cooperation is therefore essential to detect and disrupt these networks and the profits they generate.
Some Member States still lack the capacity to deal adequately with criminal assets. Whether Picassos, Ferraris or Bitcoins, the new rules now require sufficient well-trained staff, secure storage facilities and appropriate software. Criminals are innovating and we cannot be left behind.”
The law will be ratified after a plenary vote in early 2024, probably before Easter.