ALDE MEP Nathalie Griesbeck had a large majority supporting her report that was adopted on 11/01 in the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee to boost the EU’s capacity to combat the financing of organised crime and terrorism. Recent terrorist attacks in European cities drew light on the weaknesses of current European regulations to sufficiently prevent access of terrorists to finance. These new rules aim to help EU countries to strengthen law enforcement measures for the confiscation of criminal assets.

Nathalie Griesbeck rapporteur of the legislation expressed her satisfaction with the outcome of the vote: “We are making strides in the protection of 500 million European citizens with this key tool to combat the financing of criminal activity, including terrorism. Our Committee has adopted an ambitious position to facilitate and to fasten the mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders in order to strengthen cooperation between Member States.

It is also important to promote at European level the best possible management of frozen and confiscated assets and their reuse for social purposes, for the compensation of victims, victims’ families, and businesses and in order to combat organised crime. The EU will lead by example to balance fundamental rights and civil liberties with citizens’ safety and national security, while effectively preventing the financing of extremist groups.”