Brussels, 24/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Initially expected at the end of November 2011, the European Commission's draft EU legislation on freezing the assets of criminal groups will not be unveiled until early next year due to delays at the departments of Commissioners Malmström and Reding. The new legislation was announced by the Commission at the end of 2010 as part of its European Security Strategy, given the backing of EU home affairs ministers in January 2011 at their meeting in Budapest (Hungary) where they called for it to be drawn up as a matter of urgency, and given further backing by ministers meeting in Sopot (Poland) in July. The new rules will cut off funding for criminals by freezing and confiscating their assets (those arising from crime) and ensuring that criminal networks cannot get their hands on them. Some countries already have this type of legislation (Italy for example) but using civil legislation (rather than criminal legislation) and by means of a special civil service unit for the recovery of the fruits of crime. (SP/transl.fl)