Author: staff
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office had over 2,000 active fraud-related investigations by the end of 2024, with total estimated damages amounting to €24.8 billion. VAT fraud continues to be the most significant concern. At the end of 2024, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) had 2,666 active investigations relating to fraudulent crimes – an increase of 38% from the previous year.This resulted in an estimated damage to the EU budget of €24.8 billion, which was 22,5% more than in 2023, according to the latest annual report of EPPO.EPPO investigates and prosecutes crimes affecting the financial interests of the EU, such…
Szijjártó called on Ukraine “not to attack the energy infrastructure directed to Hungary” as Kyiv works to weaken Russia’s war machine. Kyiv’s armed forces said Tuesday that they had “struck a number of strategic objects of the Russian Federation involved in ensuring armed aggression against Ukraine.” Budapest has used what was supposed to be a temporary exemption to an European Union ban on Russian oil to step up its purchases of crude via the overland pipeline network, making major profits from discounted crude. In September, Ukraine signed off on an agreement that would allow Hungary to continue buying Russian oil…
This article was originally published in Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro is engulfed in a political scandal over his family’s business activities. He is expected to lose a confidence vote on Tuesday, paving the way for yet another national vote. Portugal has once again been plunged into political crisis. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who leads the Democratic Alliance (AD), is currently embroiled in a scandal over an alleged conflict of interest involving his family’s business. Montenegro, who denies the allegation, called a confidence motion last week, saying he wanted to “to end the atmosphere of permanent insinuations and intrigues”. However, his…
The building hosts the offices of Parliament President Roberta Metsola, the secretary-general, and groups’ staff offices such as the European Conservatives and Reformists, Renew Europe, and the Greens, as well as the press center. While a lucky few will be moved to the adjacent Altiero Spinelli building, some others will be jettisoned to a “buffer building” near the Parliament. Some lawmakers floated the idea of keeping the hemicycle, where the Parliament hosts some plenary sessions, open during that time but that would have cost at least €20 million more. Others have suggested holding sessions in Strasbourg’s fancy plenary room. In…
The proposed amendment of the Hungarian constitution could result in the expulsion of Hungarians who hold nationalities from other countries if the government sees them as a danger to sovereignty. Critics of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his government who hold dual nationalities could face expulsion from the country, activists and NGO leaders fear, after the governing party announced its intention to amend the constitution as part of its latest political campaign. The move was revealed by the parliamentary group leader of the ruling party, Fidesz, Máté Kocsis, in a Facebook post on Sunday. “A Hungarian citizen who also…
Perhaps the Bundeswehr’s greatest problem is its inability to grow despite a concerted recruitment push meant to grow the force to 203,000 troops by 2031. Instead, the Bundeswehr is falling further behind, shrinking by 340 troops to 181,174 at the end of 2024. The force is also getting older to due a lack of young recruits, with the average age rising to 34. “We must urgently stop and reverse this trend,” Högl warned, calling the atrophy of the Bundeswehr a serious risk to Germany’s defense capabilities. Despite a €100 billion special fund German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his government pushed…
On Sunday, Romania’s bureau also blocked Georgescu from taking part in the May 4 rerun, deeming he violated Romania’s election rules. Romanian authorities suspect an alleged Russian operation behind his highly successful TikTok campaign. Moscow on Tuesday denied any links to Georgescu, calling the accusations “complete nonsense” and “absolutely groundless.” Romania’s election turmoil is also closely watched from Washington, as United States President Donald Trump’s administration has supported the idea of allowing Georgescu to run: Both Trump’s powerful billionaire adviser Elon Musk and U.S. Vice President JD Vance had condemned November’s election annulment, and on Sunday Musk retweeted posts on X denouncing…
The case surrounding the ownership of a painting stolen by the Nazis from a Jewish woman has been ongoing for twenty years. The quest for the ownership of a French impressionist painting once stolen by the Nazis from a Jewish woman has been revived once again, following a decision from the United States Supreme Court.The contentious piece of art is Camille Pissarro’s 1897 oil canvas “Rue Saint-Honoré, in the afternoon. Effect of rain”, currently hanging in the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum in Madrid. The piece depicts a rainswept Paris street and is part of a series of works made by Pissarro towards…
At the heart of the European Commission’s proposal is an overhaul of procurement rules so that countries don’t simply opt for the cheapest available product and instead prioritize security of supply, according to a draft of the document, obtained by POLITICO on Monday. Under the act, countries would procure drugs based on new criteria — beyond price-only awards — including stockholding obligations, the number of diversified suppliers, monitoring of supply chains, transparency and performance clauses. Countries would also procure from multiple suppliers where appropriate. Where the EU is reliant on a single third country for a critical product, authorities should favor…
Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University, is challenging efforts to deport him over his role in student protests. US President Donald Trump has said the detention of a pro-Palestinian activist in New York last week will be the “first arrest of many”, as his administration cracks down on those who participated in university campus protests against Israel and the war in Gaza. Mahmoud Khalil was arrested on Saturday over his role in the protest movement at Columbia University. The former graduate student is currently being held at an immigration facility in Louisiana. Although he has not been…