​Eurojust coordinates action in France, Germany and Austria

The Hague, 29 October 2019

Seven suspects have been arrested for the sale of large quantities of stolen gold as the result of an action, coordinated by  Eurojust.  The value of the stolen jewellery is estimated at EUR 1 million annually. The suspects  were arrested for organised robbery, concealment and money laundering in simultaneous operations in three countries.

The Hague, 29 October 2019

International criminal networks are rapidly expanding their activities into the realm of environmental crime. With a threefold rise in major cases being opened at Eurojust last year, more co-ordination is necessary to combat this form of cross-border crime and ensure that health and safety standards and a high level of environmental protection are maintained. Tackling international environmental crime, as well the protection of endangered species and the natural habitat, such as preventing the dumping of hazardous materials, are of vital importance. Furthermore, organised crime undermines legally operating enterprises in the field of waste management.

How to win the fight against organised environmental crime is the main topic of the forthcoming joint conference, International collaboration & co-operation in the fight against environmental crime, organised by the European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment (ENPE) and Eurojust, the EU’s Judicial Cooperation Unit, starting today at Eurojust’s premises in The Hague.

The conference will consist of two days of plenary and breakout sessions, featuring presentations from four continents, including from specialists from Brazil, China and North and South America, as well as a dedicated workshop focusing on how best to co-operate globally in tackling environmental crime. More than 100 specialists from all over the world will attend the event.

Ahead of the conference, Eurojust’s President, Mr Ladislav Hamran, said: ‘Combatting environmental crime is of great importance, because it poses a serious threat to our health and physical safety. That’s why Eurojust gladly joins forces with ENPE, and other actors concerned, in an effort to stop organised crime from getting a foothold in this sector.’

ENPE’s President, Ms Anne Brosnan, said: ‘ENPE is a growing network of European prosecutors, sharing learning and best practice, establishing good case law and developing training opportunities in relation to the prosecution of environmental crime across Europe. Working with Eurojust and other partners, we will help to deliver better environmental regulation and a healthier, more sustainable environment. Our annual conference this year, held in conjunction with Eurojust, will provide a unique opportunity to embed, improve and expand this work.’

Photo © Shutterstock

Tackling cross-border organised environmental crime is a priority for the European Union. The conference will focus on concrete steps to improve the fight against environmental offences, including serious and organised crime, by improving international collaboration and co-operation in relation to the prosecution of environmental criminals. Judicial practitioners and specialists in the field will exchange best practice and discuss mutual approaches to promote effectiveness in prosecution and to strengthen and speed up investigations in general.

The conference will be opened by Eurojust’s Vice-President, Mr Klaus Meyer-Cabri, and chaired by Ms Brosnan. The Dutch Secretary of State for the Environment, Ms Stientje van Veldhoven, will address the conference via video link. Speakers from, amongst other bodies, INTERPOL, the European Commission and the European Union Forum of Environmental Judges network (EUFJE), will share their knowledge and experience. The conference will end on Wednesday 30 October.

• The European Investment Bank to invest EUR 35 million in modernization of the Mariupol water supply and waste water management system;
• EIB partners with the Government of the Republic of France to deliver a major infrastructural improvement for the citizens of Mariupol; France will invest EUR 64 m towards a new water plant;
• 411,000 people to benefit from the investment.

European Investment Bank (EIB), the Government of France and the City Council of Mariupol have signed today a Declaration of Intent about development municipal water supply infrastructure in Mariupol. The Declaration specifies the scope of works and responsibilities of the parties in implementing number of simultaneous projects, aimed at significant improvement of the water supply system in the city.

The overall objective of the EUR 35 m loan from EIB is a complex modernization of water supply and sewerage systems of the city in achieving substantial savings of energy, reducing water losses in networks and improve wastewater treatment operations. It is planned that the asset modernisation will substantially improve the overall technical and financial operation of the utility and implementation of the least-cost energy efficient measures will reduce the electric energy consumption during the peak- and off-peak operating hours. 

The scope of Project will include: rehabilitation of the 2 existing water pumping stations (WPS); building 3 new modern WPS; reconstruction of water supply mains; rehabilitation of the biological wastewater treatment plant (WWTP); construction of a new wastewater pumping station (WWPS) No. 9 construction of wastewater collector. Environmental impact is expected to be achieved through the reduction of discharging untreated wastewater.

Jean-Erik de Zagon, Head of the EIB Office in Ukraine, said: “EIB as the largest international lender to the water sector worldwide, is happy to provide both the financing and the much needed expertise to implement this project. This project will help the population of Mariupol to have access to considerably more efficient and reliable water supply”.

The complexity of the project, however, requires significant preparation and feasibility studies. This part of the project will be financed by the French Government through a TA grant. It will comprise three Master Plans 2020-2040 for water supply including water resources, wastewater collection and treatment as well as storm water management and flood protection, complete with water demand study, hydraulic models, etc.

The purpose of this TA assignment is to help the project final beneficiary in project preparation and develop the Feasibility Study, that shall provide an overview of the procedures and technical, operational, environmental and social performance options as well as define the project’s objectives (e.g. reduction in water losses, energy consumption).

Simultaneously, the city will benefit from a EUR 64 m loan from the French Government, that will be aimed at building a new drinking water plant. The project will also encompass developing a General plan of improving water supply in the city till 2040 that will help the city to plan future investment into water management system, to minimize the impact on environment and, finally, to ensure integration of the new plant into the existing water supply system.

Mr Etienne de Poncins, the Ambassador of France to Ukraine, said: “France and EIB, by coordinating their financing and efforts in support of the city of Mariupol, are providing an important signal. The needs but also the opportunities for revitalizing the economy of Eastern Ukraine are huge. It is through very concrete projects, vital for the populations, that we will drive changes. I am very proud that a French Treasury loan can contribute to the renewal of water infrastructures  in Mariupol, strengthening the Franco-Ukrainian bilateral relationship, and also the working relationship with EIB in this region”.

Vadym Boychenko, City Mayor of Mariupol: “Thanks to the support of the international partners, Mariupol will receive both access to the professional expertise and financial support.  In the city with a half of million inhabitants this support will help to solve one of the key problems in water supply.  As a result Mariupol residents will receive access to the clean drinking water at the affordable price. I am grateful to our friends, the European Investment bank and the French Government, for their trust and support”.

Total number of consumers receiving the centralized water supply and sewerage services in the city and who will directly benefit from the project is 411,000 people.

​Eurojust coordinates action in France, Germany and Austria

The Hague, 29 October 2019

Seven suspects have been arrested for the sale of large quantities of stolen gold as the result of an action, coordinated by  Eurojust.  The value of the stolen jewellery is estimated at EUR 1 million annually. The suspects  were arrested for organised robbery, concealment and money laundering in simultaneous operations in three countries.