Organised crime: the fight becomes European

First-ever European action plan 2014-2020

"The fight against organized crime, corruption and money laundering today becomes a priority for the European Parliament. For the first time in the history of the European Union, a European Action Plan for 2014-2019 - a list of priorities to fight mafias in all their forms throughout Europe - has been established by the Committee on organized crime, corruption and money laundering (CRIM)," said Salvatore Iacolino MEP, Standing Rapporteur on the CRIM Committee, on the sidelines of the vote on its final report.

“The fight against organized crime must be our priority! It is time to react and to develop ways to better combat these criminals who do not wait for us to cooperate. We need to have intelligence units, but also national prosecutors specialised in organized crime, as is the case for terrorism. We must also empower police to cooperate by giving more resources to joint investigation teams, investing in police training, including language training, and providing them with the help of experts to better fight against increasingly technical crimes,” Veronique Mathieu Houillon MEP, EPP Group Coordinator in the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, pointed out.

"We have established the principle that if we want to be effective in the fight against crime, we must break down national boundaries and recognise the added value brought by European legislation. This will be the starting point to ensure effective cooperation between Member States in tackling mafia assets of every kind," said Salvatore Iacolino MEP.

In his final report, Iacolino calls for the implementation of a European Action Plan for 2014-2019 to eradicate organized crime, corruption and money laundering. Priorities include: defining criminal phenomena (including involvement in mafia-style organisations and self-laundering); abolishing bank secrecy; eliminating tax havens; promoting the seizure and confiscation of criminal assets; criminalising sports-rigging and introducing appropriate penalties for cybercrime; eradicating trafficking in human beings and forced labour, especially when they concern minors and women; introducing Europe-wide corporate taxation that is as uniform, equal and homogeneous as possible; strengthening the fight against environmental crimes and drug trafficking; ensuring swift mutual recognition of judicial measures; establishing and launching the European Public Prosecutor’s Office; recognizing the relevant role of investigative journalism in identifying serious crimes.

“We also want to seize this occasion to underline that this action plan will also contribute to improving and strengthening the fight against the criminals responsible for trafficking immigrants in the Mediterranean. In order to stop deadly tragedies such as that in Lampedusa, Europe has to provide for effective coordination among Member States to put a stop to “death dealers” in the Mediterranean, and this is also a first step in that direction as well,” said MEPs Iacolino and Mathieu Houillon.