The definition of organized crime has long been the object of a lively debate, at national and international level. However, the discussions and analysis haven't yet led to one definitive answer to the question of what exactly does 'organized crime' mean. This book starts from the (rather obvious) assumption that many instruments adopted both at international and at national level set forth special legal regimes designed to target criminal groups featuring a stable organization - which are perceived as particularly dangerous to society. Therefore, identifying the notion of organized crime is...

In the past few years, criminal justice systems have faced important global challenges in the field of economic and financial crime. The 2008 financial crisis revealed how strongly financial markets and economies are interconnected; it illustrated that misconduct in the economic and financial sectors is often of a systemic nature, with wide-spread consequences for a large number of victims. Continuous technological evolutions and socio-economic developments make the distinction between socially desirable and undesirable behaviour more problematic, with economic and financial misconduct...

The fight against dirty money is not a new topic, nor a recent problem. It has existed within international and national agendas since the 1980s. Nonetheless, the evolving complexity of criminal skills and networks; the increasingly global dimension of crime; the financial crisis; and the alleged unsatisfactory results of the efforts hitherto undertaken cause some questions to be re-posed and re-discussed. This book addresses several issues concerning the reasons, objectives, and scope of national and supranational strategies targeting criminal money, as well as the concrete modalities to...

Pursuant to the precepts of EU law, EU policy-makers are bound to ensure that any EU legislation must fall within the remit of the EU's competences. This monograph looks at this highly contested question, with particular reference to European Union criminal law. It looks at the powers enjoyed by the EU to impose criminal sanctions to suggest mechanisms by which legislative powers could be kept in check. The book argues that the main responsibility for providing checks against the exercise of EU power lies with the EU judiciary. It argues that the most effective form of review is procedural...

In recent years, criminal justice systems have faced important global challenges in the field of economic and financial crime. The 2008 crisis revealed how strongly financial markets and economies are interconnected and illustrated that misconduct in the economic and financial sectors is often of a systemic nature. The prevention, control and punishment of such crimes is thus confronted with a strong globalisation. Legislators and law enforcers have been searching for adequate responses to combat economic and financial crime by adapting existing policies, norms and practices and by creating...