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Source: Europol
Over 50 most wanted criminals newly uploaded to the websiteThis year’s campaign sees a fresh batch of wanted criminals uploaded to the website. Over 50 profiles of fugitives linked to serious crimes have been uploaded to the website this year. Some of the crimes committed by fugitives highlighted in this year’s list include murder, trafficking in human beings, armed robbery…
Source: NATO
Around 200 Ukrainian medics have completed NATO training that will help Ukraine’s healthcare system to cope with the devastating impact of Russia’s war. The activity was organised jointly by Romania and NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), and funded by six Allies. The participants are first responders from different Ukrainian agencies, the National Guard, the National Police, the State Emergency Service, the State Border Guard Service, as well as medical units of the Ministry of the Interior. They are involved in rescue operations and provide critical medical services to civilians during Russian missile and artillery strikes.
The training was launched following Ukraine’s request for NATO assistance to help its medical system, which is under strain from the conflict and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This project is already helping Ukrainians receive better medical care, and will increase Ukraine’s resilience in the longer term. It’s a prime example of what can be achieved when Allies join forces and direct their solidarity and resources through NATO,” said Tom Goffus, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations. He praised Romania for its staunch support to this project, and expressed gratitude to the Allies whose donations made it possible.
The NATO EADRCC managed the programme’s implementation and the cost – 442,701 Euro – was covered by donations made by Czechia, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Romanian Department of Emergency Situations offered the training classes and practical experience, while the country’s International Organisation of Migration also supported the project. Romania also hosted the activities in Oradea and Targu Mures.
Source: NATO
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs to NATO Headquarters on Thursday (16 November 2023) to discuss continued support for Ukraine and the ongoing implementation of decisions taken at the Vilnius Summit.
Mr Stoltenberg thanked President Rinkēvičs for Latvia’s contributions to the Alliance, including increased defence spending, investments in new capabilities like HIMARS, and contributions to NATO operations and missions in Kosovo and Iraq. Latvia also hosts a Canadian-led battlegroup and will host NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission next year.
The Secretary General welcomed Riga’s significant political and military support to Ukraine, saying: “this is even more important now, as the situation on the battlefield is very difficult.” He added: “that is not an argument for less support; it is an argument for more support. This matters not just for Ukraine’s security, but for our security.”
The Secretary General emphasised that NATO will become even stronger when Sweden joins, saying: “we look forward to welcoming Sweden as a fully Ally very soon”.
Source: Europol
This type of crime is particularly prevalent in Germany. While the number of ATM robberies in the Netherlands is decreasing, most perpetrators are based in the Netherlands and operate from there. Their reliance on high-grade explosives, which they often assemble and store in residential areas, can cause serious risks to residents.Ruthless modus operandiWhen committing the crime itself, perpetrators typically act…
Source: Europol
Cannabis products are becoming increasingly potent and diverse, while collaboration between criminal groups is creating new security risks in Europe. These are among the conclusions of a new analysis — EU Drug Market: Cannabis — released today by the EMCDDA and Europol (1). The analysis describes the illegal European market for cannabis products, from production and trafficking to distribution and use….
Source: Europol
As a result of this investigation, six suspects were already arrested in Ukraine and four in the Czech Republic in April this year. Locations in Czechia (Domazlice, Rokycany and Plzen) and Ukraine (Dnipropetrovsk) were searched during the raids, including the homes of the accused, vehicles and call centres.Mobile phones, SIM cards and computer equipment were seized during the crackdown.The criminal…
Source: NATO
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was awarded the CIOR 75th Anniversary Medal in a ceremony at the NATO Headquarters on Tuesday (14 November 2023).
The CIOR Medal is awarded by the President of the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) and is given to “individuals, whose contribution to CIOR’s work or promoting and developing reserve forces has been most outstanding.” The Secretary General received the medal in recognition of his “contribution in promoting and developing reserve forces in the armed forces of the Alliance.” The Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer was also awarded the CIOR 75th Anniversary Medal during the same day.
Source: Europol
The action day on 13 November 2023 led to:11 arrests (8 in Belgium, 2 in Greece and 1 in Sweden) 16 location searches (12 in Belgium and 4 in Greece) 2 travel agencies searched in Athens (included above)Seizure of phones, other electronic devices and digital evidence, two boxes with forged passports and almost EUR 200 000 in cashMigrants paid at least…
Source: NATO
NATO has selected its next generation command and control aircraft as the Alliance’s existing Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) fleet nears retirement. Production of the six new Boeing’s E-7A Wedgetail aircraft is set to begin in the coming years, with the first aircraft expected to be ready for operational duty by 2031. A consortium of Allies gave their approval to the project, one of NATO’s biggest-ever capability purchases, this month.
“Surveillance and control aircraft are crucial for NATO’s collective defence and I welcome Allies’ commitment to investing in high-end capabilities,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. “By pooling resources, Allies can buy and operate major assets collectively that would be too expensive for individual countries to purchase. This investment in state-of-the-art technology shows the strength of transatlantic defence cooperation as we continue to adapt to a more unstable world”.
The E-7 Wedgetail is an advanced early warning and control aircraft that provides situational awareness and command and control functions. Equipped with a powerful radar, the aircraft can detect hostile aircraft, missiles and ships at great distances and can direct NATO fighter jets to their targets. The United States, the United Kingdom and Türkiye also either fly the Wedgetail or plan to operate it. It is based on a militarised version of the 737 jetliner.
NATO has operated a fleet of E-3A Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft since the 1980s. Based at Geilenkirchen airbase in Germany, the AWACS have flown in every major NATO operation, including the fight against ISIS as well as on NATO’s eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The E-7 is expected to have its main base at Geilenkirchen and could operate from several forward locations across Europe. The Wedgetail will be part of the Alliance’s future surveillance and control project which will field NATO’s next generation of surveillance systems from the mid-2030s.
Source: NATO
On Wednesday, 15th November 2023, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Jens Stoltenberg, will meet with the College of the European Union Commissioners. The meeting will take place during a visit to the European Commission at the Berlaymont building, in Brussels.