EU Cybersecurity – a Swiss Cheese that can be served as a Fondue?

An earlier article about asset restitution suggested the European Union (EU) takes its example from Switzerland. In cybersecurity, the EU's institutions appear to be very Swiss – but unfortunately in the sense of a Swiss cheese full of holes. The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has recently investigated the level of cybersecurity of the EU's...

Exploring Europol – the agency’s reaction to its own limitations (Part 2)

A country’s location at the EU’s Southern and South-Eastern border is an important factor when it comes to smuggling. Naturally, migrant smuggling is much more common in these areas adjacent to non-EU states than in landlocked states and/or countries in Europe’s North. The importance of cooperation for information sharing Europol is reliant on information from...

Exploring Europol: the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Part 1)

Europol’s mission and characteristics The European Union’s (EU) body for law enforcement, Europol, was created in 1999 and has its headquarter in the Netherlands, Den Haag. The agency’s role is to help EU member states in combatting the smuggling of migrants. In that task, the agency is one of the main actors in EU policy-making....

Recovery and Resilience Facility and Cohesion Policy: a different kettle of fish?

In May 2020, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Commission proposed the creation of a novel recovery instrument, the Next Generation EU, aimed at ensuring a sustainable recovery across the EU. The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) constitutes the most massive area of the Next Generation EU’s resources amounting to €723.8 billion...

The work programme of the European Court of Auditors: adjusting audits and special reports to Covid-19

On the 30 October 2019 the European Court of Auditors (ECA) published its Work Programme for the year 2020, listing all the upcoming priorities, main challenges and key concerns for the EU’s finances. The 2020 Work Programme covers a wide range of areas and related problems the EU is currently facing, among them: the sustainable...

The MFF 2021-2027: what role for the EP, what impact on citizens?

A look to the (not so far) future While the UK has reported the highest number of deaths due Covid-19, countries like Italy are entering into “phase 2”, relaxing strict measures a little and allowing people, not only to meet their nearest relatives and friends, but to take their beloved espresso directly at a café....

What role for the ECB? Bringing symmetry to asymmetrical risk in the EU

What are the features of ESM Pandemic Crisis Support? On 23rd April 2020, EU leaders endorsed the Eurogroup agreement of 9 April 2020, which established three safety nets for workers, businesses and Member States, amounting to a package worth 540 billion Euros. Besides the three safety nets, this Eurogroup Report also agreed to establish the...

COVID-19: a Roadmap to recovery – what does it mean for the EU budget?

On 26 March the Joint Statement adopted by members of the European Council contained firm demands for a coordinated exit strategy, a comprehensive recovery plan and an unprecedented level of investment. It invited both the Presidents of the European Council and Commission, in consultation with the other institutions, and particularly the European Central Bank (ECB),...

The EU’s response to COVID-19: adapting the Emergency Support Instrument (ESI)

On Friday 17th April 2020, little more than one month after the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the European Parliament approved the freeing up of €3.08 billion to support member states’ healthcare systems during this time of crisis. The financing of this action is to come entirely from EU budget. The EP and the Council...

The EU’s struggle to recover the proceeds of grand corruption

Last year’s report by Transparency International EU (TI EU) about asset restitution in Europe showcases what is a rather ‘unequal race’. On the one hand, we have autocrats and officials from non-EU countries attempting to hide their illegally acquired assets (tens of billions of dollars) in the European Union (EU). On the other hand, we...