Hufnagel, Saskia --- "Organized crime" [2016] ELECD 504; in Mitsilegas, Valsamis; Bergström, Maria; Konstadinides, Theodore (eds), "Research Handbook on EU Criminal Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016) 355

Book Title: Research Handbook on EU Criminal Law

Editor(s): Mitsilegas, Valsamis; Bergström, Maria; Konstadinides, Theodore

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781783473304

Section: Chapter 17

Section Title: Organized crime

Author(s): Hufnagel, Saskia

Number of pages: 21

Abstract/Description:

Organized crime in the EU presents challenges at different levels. Legally, there is still a debate about the definition of organized crime in the EU. Policing and judicial practice struggles with the cross-border aspect of organized crime and the differences in substantive and procedural law in the Member States. This chapter focuses on the legislation and strategic measures that have been developed in the EU fight against organized crime. The chapter addresses the possibilities of adopting a common legislative strategy within the European legal framework. It investigates the development of EU organized crime legislation and other measures to control this ‘type’ of crime. Diverting from a purely legal investigation, the most prominent strategic measures in achieving Member States’ police and justice cooperation in this area are addressed to show the level of harmonization of enforcement strategies in the light of substantive criminal law developments at the EU level.