The freezing and confiscation of the proceeds of crime are being discussed at a two-day seminar ending today, being held by the Technical Assistance Information Exch-

ange Instrument (TAIEX), of the DG Enlargement, with the collaboration of the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry.

The seminar relates to Council Framework Decision 2003/577/JHA of 22 July 2003 on the execution in the European Union of orders freezing property or evidence and Council Framework Decision 2006/783/JHA of 6 October 2006 on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to confiscation orders.

These framework decisions introduce concepts that go beyond the traditional forms of mutual legal assistance.

Cooperation under these instruments will become the norm in EU Member States and a good implementation of these provisions into national law and the practical ability to apply them in practice will be vital.

The seminar provides a good platform for an in-depth analysis and discussion of the provisions of these framework decisions. Presentations on the topic are being delivered by Dennis Evans, former director Home Office UK, Guy Stessens, Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers, Stefan Trunk, Prosecutor, Düsseldorf and Ms Ingrid Maschl-Clausen, Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU, Brussels.

Those taking part include members of the judiciary, representatives from the Criminal Courts Department and the Office of the Attorney General, and officers from the Economic Crimes Squad, the National Counterfeit Office, the Money Laundering Unit, the Drugs Squad and the CID Department.