Category: Europe

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Support to German-Cypriot operation against fake investment platforms robbing victims of EUR 10 million

Source: Eurojust

German and Cypriot authorities have launched a coordinated operation to block 13 fake investment platforms, with support from Eurojust and Europol. During a joint action day in Cyprus and Germany, four suspects were arrested for defrauding victims of millions of euros and for money laundering. The fraud was run from a call centre based in Cyprus and robbed victims of at least EUR 10 million.

The alleged perpetrators used a well-known modus operandi: cybertrading. This method involves promising high profits and drawing customers through professionally designed, credible websites and social media. They also operated a call centre where members of the organised crime group behind the fraudulent sites posted as professional trading experts.

Approximately 170 German investors were lured into making online transfers, without receiving any real returns on their investments. Instead, they were shown fake statistics indicating that they had made substantial profits. The victims of the fraudulent online system subsequently lost all their money. Initial estimates put the total loss at no less than EUR 10 million.

The investigation was opened in the beginning of 2024 by the Bavarian Central Office for the Prosecution of Cybercrime, which contacted Eurojust in April. Eurojust helped to organise a meeting in Cyprus between the German and Cypriot authorities to exchange information and establish direct links.

The Agency also assisted in the execution of European Investigation Orders and provided background information and research documents. Europol supported the investigation by deploying an expert to Cyprus, during the coordinated action on 4 November. During the coordinated action in Germany and Cyprus, authorities searched 13 locations, arrested 4 suspects, and seized cash, luxury watches and 2 vehicles.

The following authorities initiated and supported the coordinated actions on the ground:

  • Germany: General Public Prosecutor’s Office Bamberg – Bavarian Central Office for the Prosecution of Cybercrime; Criminal Police Inspectorate Amberg
  • Cyprus: Cyprus Police
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NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood visits Jordan

Source: NATO

NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, Javier Colomina, travelled to Jordan, on 6 November 2024. This was his first visit to the country in his new capacity. He met with high-level officials, including the Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry, the Political Advisor to the King and the Director of General Intelligence. He welcomed the growing strategic partnership between NATO and Jordan and discussed issues of mutual interest, including regional security challenges.

“Jordan is one of the strongest NATO partners and a key player in the region and beyond,” said Mr Colomina. “I was pleased to receive in-depth views by my counterparts on regional developments and welcomed the tireless diplomacy efforts by His Majesty King Abdallah II bin al-Hussein to prevent further escalation of the war in the Middle East,” he added. He also underlined the continued work to strengthen international and regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism including by exploring further synergies between NATO activities and the approach through the “Aqaba Process” launched by His Majesty King Abdallah II al-Hussein in 2015. The Special Representative assured his interlocutors that assistance on border security through the NATO Defence Capacity Building package remains a priority, emphasizing “it is important to respond to the security needs of our partners”.

Mr. Colomina also discussed the final preparations for the establishment of a NATO Liaison Office in Amman which is a pivotal element of an Action Plan approved by Allied leaders at the NATO Summit in Washington D.C., this past July, for a stronger, more strategic and result-oriented NATO approach towards our southern neighbourhood. He pointed out that this new office is “a key priority for Allies”, explaining that it will mark the next significant milestone in the NATO-Jordan strategic partnership, further strengthen political dialogue and practical cooperation between NATO and Jordan, and contribute to enhance NATO’s presence and visibility in the southern neighbourhood.

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Crackdown on cocaine trafficking from South America in Italy and Albania: 29 arrests

Source: Eurojust

An international operation coordinated by Eurojust and Europol has disrupted the trafficking of large quantities of cocaine from South America to various Italian seaports. In total, 29 suspects belonging to an Albanian-led criminal network were arrested in Italy and Albania. Simultaneously, locations were searched in France, Romania, and Spain were searched to gather information and potential evidence. The successful crackdown is the result of a long-term joint investigation teams (JITs), supported and financed by Eurojust.

The organised crime group (OCG) was active in the wholesale distribution of drugs on the Italian market. The illicit drugs were hidden in containers with exotic fruits on vessels arriving in European ports from South America. On arrival, special recovery teams would remove the drugs from the containers and make them available to other criminal groups. The value of the drugs seized during the operation is estimated at EUR 70 million.

Investigations into the Albanian criminal network began in 2021 on the initiative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Florence in Italy. In the same year a JIT was set up between the Italian and Albanian authorities. The investigation was supported by intercepted communications between criminal organisations, which used the encrypted SkyECC mobile communication tool.

At the request of the Italian authorities, Eurojust organised several coordination meetings between all the investigating bodies to prepare for the international action against the OCG. A coordination centre was set up at Eurojust’s premises in The Hague, to support ongoing searches and arrests in the five countries involved. Eurojust also assisted with the execution of European Investigation Orders in France, Romania and Spain and requests for Mutual Legal Assistance to Albania. The arrest warrants were disseminated worldwide through INTERPOL, thanks to the Italian 3rd division of Central Service for International Police Cooperation.

The actions, coordinated by Eurojust and Europol, resulted in the seizure of more than two tonnes of cocaine, 45 kg of hashish, 20 kg of marijuana and 29 arrests, 27 in Italy and two in Albania.

The following authorities initiated and carried out the operations on the ground:

  • Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Florence; Guardia di Finanza Pisa Economic Financial Unit; Guardia di Finanza Central Service against organised crime; Guardia di Finanza Naval Station Livorno; Italian Central Directorate for Anti-Drug Services; the Office of Security Experts at the Italian Embassy in Tirana; 3rd division of the Central Service for International Police Cooperation
  • Albania: Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organised Crime(SPAK); Albanian State Police
  • France: Judicial Court of Lyon – Interregional Specialised Jurisdiction – Organised Crime section; OFAST (National Office against Drug trafficking) National Police – Lyon
  • Spain: Public Prosecutor Specialised Unit in International Cooperation of Tarragona; Investigative Court num. 6 of Tarragona; Group 11 of UDYCO of Policia Nacional
  • Romania: Directorate for Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism – Covasna Local Bureau; Covasna Organized Crime Fighting Police Service.
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29 money-laundering drug traffickers taken down

Source: Europol

The criminal network was active in the wholesale distribution of drugs in the EU. The illicit drugs were hidden in containers with exotic fruits on vessels arriving in European ports from South America. On arrival, recovery teams would remove the drugs from the containers and sell them to other criminal networks. The value of the drugs seized during the operation…

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NATO Secretary General congratulates US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance

Source: NATO

I congratulate Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States.

I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO.

Through NATO, the US has 31 friends and Allies who help to advance US interests, multiply American power and keep Americans safe.

Together, NATO Allies represent half of the world’s economic might and half of the world’s military might.

We face a growing number of challenges globally, from a more aggressive Russia, to terrorism, to strategic competition with China, as well the increasing

alignment of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.

Working together through NATO helps to deter aggression, protect our collective security, and support our economies. 

President-elect Trump demonstrated strong U.S. leadership throughout his first term in office – a term that turned the tide on European defence spending, improved transatlantic burden sharing, and strengthened Alliance capabilities. 

When President-elect Trump takes office again on January 20, he will be welcomed by a stronger, larger, and more united Alliance. 

Two-thirds of Allies now spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence, and defence spending and production are on an onward trajectory across the Alliance.

We must continue these efforts in order to preserve peace and prosperity across North America and Europe. 

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NATO Secretary General hails Italy’s contributions to Euro-Atlantic security and support to Ukraine

Source: NATO

Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Italy today (5 November 2024), where he met Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella. He underscored the importance of continuing to strengthen deterrence and defence, and step up support to Ukraine.

“Keeping our one billion people safe is NATO’s most sacred duty, and that is why we are ramping up our defence industrial capacity,” the Secretary General said, adding that “we need to go further and faster, for our own deterrence and to support Ukraine.”

The Secretary General underlined that Italy is “a staunch and reliable Ally, contributing in many ways to Euro-Atlantic security.” He highlighted Italy’s lead of NATO’s new battlegroup in Bulgaria, its contributions to NATO’s deployments in Hungary and Latvia, and the deployment of Italy’s jets to protect Allied airspace and ships to keep crucial seaways open. “Italy is once again leading our peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, helping to foster stability in the Western Balkans,” he added.

The Secretary General thanked Prime Minister Meloni “for being such a strong supporter of Ukraine.” He underscored that Allies and partners “will continue to stand by Ukraine, because Ukraine’s fight is our fight,” and welcomed Italy’s strong support for the action plan adopted at the Washington Summit for a stronger, more strategic and results-oriented approach towards NATO’s southern neighbourhood.

During his visit, Secretary General Rutte also visited the Italian facilities of the defence manufacturing group Rheinmetall. 

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NATO Secretary General in Berlin: “your support saves lives on the battlefield every day”

Source: NATO

During his first official visit to Berlin on Monday (4 November), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz for Germany’s significant contributions to the Alliance and its ongoing support for Ukraine.

The Secretary General praised Chancellor Scholz’s “personal leadership and commitment” to investing more in defence. “Germany now invests 2 percent of its GDP in defence for the first time in three decades. This is important for Germany and for NATO,” he said.
 
The Secretary General highlighted Germany’s contributions to NATO, including its presence in the eastern part of the Alliance where it is stationing a full brigade in Lithuania. Mr Rutte welcomed the opening of Germany’s new naval headquarters in Rostock, which will help to protect key trade and supply routes, and critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
 
Mr Rutte also thanked Germany for being “the biggest European contributor of military aid” to Ukraine, underlining that Germany’s support “saves lives on the battlefield every day.” He also warned of more frequent Russian hybrid attacks against NATO Allies, saying “the shifting frontline in this war is no longer solely within Ukraine.”  Russia is interfering directly in Allies’ democracies, sabotaging industry and committing violence. “All of this to weaken us and to sow divisions, but NATO stands ready to deter and defend against these threats,” he said.
 
On Monday, the Secretary General also met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, and Chairman of the Defence Committee of the German Bundestag Marcus Faber.

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Asset recovery in focus at 4th EuroMed Justice Network meeting

Source: Eurojust

31 October 2024|

On 29-30 October, the 4th EuroMed Justice Network (EMJNet) meeting was held at the Ministry of Justice of Spain in Madrid.

Forty-five criminal justice representatives from eight South Partner Countries (SPCs) and nine European Union Member States gathered to share knowledge and exchange best practices on international judicial cooperation related to the different stages of asset recovery. The meeting focused on asset tracing; asset freezing; asset confiscation and asset management and disposal (reverted to the relevant state, shared among the respective states or returned to the victim).

Representatives from UNICRI and the leader of the Economic Crimes Team at Eurojust also presented international and European recommendations and standards, best practises and challenges on these topics.

Participants also discussed their national asset tracking systems and presented relevant cross border cases.

Over both days, the objectives of EMJNet were reintroduced by the EMJ PMT . EMJNet, the cross-Mediterranean network of criminal justice practitioners aims to strengthen the contacts and the operational cooperation between criminal justice authorities from SPCs and EU Member States. EMJNet acts as the operational network of the EMJ Project and is composed of contact points who are active intermediaries facilitating judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

The participants also benefited from the presentation of Spain’s Asset Management Office by its two Deputy Directors.

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NATO reaffirms its commitment to strengthen training and education on international humanitarian law

Source: NATO

This week [28-31 October] a NATO delegation attended the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva. NATO reaffirmed its pledge to continue working with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to identify further opportunities to provide training and education on international humanitarian law. This is the third time that NATO makes this pledge (following the 32nd and 33rd International Conferences in 2015 and 2019).

NATO’s dialogue with the ICRC

As Allies reiterated at the Washington Summit this July, NATO remains committed to promoting the principles of international humanitarian law together with the international community, including the ICRC. It does so by including measures to protect civilians affected by armed conflict in its military doctrine, education, training, planning, exercises and operations.

The International Conference of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent

The International Conference of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent takes place every four years and provides a space for humanitarian actors, international organisations and the 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and all 196 states party to the Geneva Conventions to promote respect for and contribute to the development of international humanitarian law.

The NATO Liaison Office in Geneva

In 2023, Allies agreed to establish a NATO Liaison Office in Geneva to further strengthen the Alliance’s engagement with the United Nations and other relevant international organisations. The office is intended to offer a platform to engage in political dialogue and cooperation with Geneva-based international organizations.

REAFFIRMATION OF NATO’S PLEDGE

Considering:
NATO’s commitment to abide by the rules and principles of International Humanitarian Law; 

NATO’s recognition of, and respect for, the ICRC’s mandate and mission; 

NATO’s continued efforts to advance its Human Security Agenda, which entails the Protection of Civilians; Children and Armed Conflict; Preventing and Responding to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence; Cultural Property Protection and Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings, as well as continued efforts to advance the Women, Peace and Security Agenda; 

NATO’s continued commitment to including measures to protect civilians affected by armed conflict in Alliance’s military doctrine, education, training, exercises, planning, and the conduct of operations;  

NATO reaffirms its pledge to:
Continue substantive dialogue with the ICRC aimed at identifying areas where training and education provided by NATO on International Humanitarian Law may be further enhanced.

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NATO Secretary General to visit Germany

Source: NATO

On Monday, 4 November 2024, Secretary General Mark Rutte will travel to Berlin, Germany.

The Secretary General will meet the President, Mr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Chancellor, Mr Olaf Scholz, the Minister of Defence, Mr Boris Pistorius, the Minister of Finance, Mr Christian Lindner, and other senior officials.

Media advisory

15:50 (CET)  Joint press conference by the Secretary General and the Chancellor of Germany

Media coverage

The press conference will be streamed live on the NATO website.

A transcript of the Secretary General’s remarks, as well as photographs, will be on the NATO website. Video can be downloaded from the NATO Multimedia Portal after the event.

For more information:
General queries: contact the NATO Press Office
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