Framework decision 2005/212 - Confiscation of Crime-Related Proceeds, Instrumentalities and Property

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1.

Current status

This framework decision was in effect from March 15, 2005 until May 21, 2024 and should have been implemented in national regulation on March 15, 2007 at the latest.

2.

Key information

official title

Council Framework Decision 2005/212/JHA of 24 February 2005 on Confiscation of Crime-Related Proceeds, Instrumentalities and Property
 
Legal instrument Framework decision
Number legal act Framework decision 2005/212
Original proposal JAI(2002)18
CELEX number i 32005F0212

3.

Key dates

Document 24-02-2005
Publication in Official Journal 15-03-2005; OJ L 159M , 13.6.2006,Special edition in Bulgarian: Chapter 19 Volume 007,OJ L 68, 15.3.2005,Special edition in Romanian: Chapter 19 Volume 007,Special edition in Croatian: Chapter 19 Volume 016
Effect 15-03-2005; Entry into force Date pub. See Art 7
End of validity 21-05-2024; Partial replacement See 32024L1260 Art. 36.1
31-12-9999
Transposition 15-03-2007; At the latest See Art 6.1

4.

Legislative text

15.3.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 68/49

 

COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 2005/212/JHA

of 24 February 2005

on Confiscation of Crime-Related Proceeds, Instrumentalities and Property

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 29, 31(1)(c) and 34(2)(b) thereof,

Having regard to the initiative of the Kingdom of Denmark (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

 

(1)

The main motive for cross-border organised crime is financial gain. In order to be effective, therefore, any attempt to prevent and combat such crime must focus on tracing, freezing, seizing and confiscating the proceeds from crime. However, this is made difficult, inter alia, as a result of differences between Member States’ legislation in this area.

 

(2)

In the conclusions of the Vienna European Council of December 1998, the European Council called for a strengthening of EU efforts to combat international organised crime in accordance with an action plan on how best to implement the provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam in an area of freedom, security and justice (2).

 

(3)

Pursuant to paragraph 50(b) of the Vienna Action Plan, within five years of the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam, national provisions governing seizures and confiscation of the proceeds from crime must be improved and approximated where necessary, taking account of the rights of third parties in bona fide.

 

(4)

Paragraph 51 of the conclusions of the Tampere European Council of 15 and 16 October 1999 stresses that money laundering is at the very heart of organised crime, and should be rooted out wherever it occurs and that the European Council is determined to ensure that concrete steps are taken to trace, freeze, seize and confiscate the proceeds from crime. The European Council also calls, in paragraph 55, for the approximation of criminal law and procedures on money laundering (e.g. tracing, freezing and confiscating funds).

 

(5)

Pursuant to Recommendation 19 in the 2000 action plan entitled ‘The prevention and control of organised crime: a European Union strategy for the beginning of the new millennium’, which was approved by the Council on 27 March 2000 (3), an examination should be made of the possible need for an instrument which, taking into account best practice in the Member States and with due respect for fundamental legal principles, introduces the possibility of mitigating, under criminal, civil or fiscal law, as appropriate, the onus of proof regarding the source of assets held by a person convicted of an offence related to organised crime.

 

(6)

Pursuant to Article 12, on confiscation and seizure, of the UN Convention of 12 December 2000 against Transnational Organised Crime, States Parties may consider the possibility of requiring that an offender demonstrate the lawful origin of alleged proceeds of crime or other property liable to confiscation, to the extent that such a requirement is consistent with the principles of their domestic law and with the nature of judicial proceedings.

 

(7)

All Member States have ratified the Council of Europe Convention of 8 November 1990 on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime. Some Member States have submitted declarations with regard to Article 2 of the Convention concerning confiscation so as to be obliged to confiscate proceeds only from a number of specified offences.

 

(8)

The Council Framework Decision 2001/500/JHA (4) lays down provisions on money laundering, the identification, tracing, freezing, seizing and confiscation of instrumentalities and the proceeds from crime. Under that Framework Decision, Member States are also obliged not to make or uphold...


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This text has been adopted from EUR-Lex.

5.

Original proposal

 

6.

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