26/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - Council facilitates recovery of misappropriated funds. On Monday 26 November, the Council of the European Union adopted measures to facilitate the return of misappropriated funds to the Egyptian and Tunisian authorities, authorising the EU member states to release frozen assets on the basis of judicial decisions recognised in these states. Once the judicial measures are taken, it should allow the release and return to the Egyptian and Tunisian authorities of funds frozen under EU sanctions against the former regimes of Mubarak and Ben Ali. The amended legislation will also facilitate the exchange of information between the member states and the relevant authorities in Tunisia and Egypt in order to assist in the recovery of the misappropriated funds. Since the beginning of 2011, the funds and assets of 48 people responsible for the misappropriation of Tunisian state funds and of 19 people responsible on the Egyptian side, have been frozen in the EU. (CG/transl.fl)