Brussels, 03/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, the LithuanianPpresidency stated that, on 3 December, the permanent representatives to the member states had reached an agreement on the directive on freezing and confiscating the assets of organised criminal groups. The member states have approved a compromise reached with the European Parliament. The directive will enable the appropriate national authorities to confiscate and recover the profits generated by organised crime. The countries themselves will be able to decide on how these assets are reused. Italy will be reusing them for charitable works. The directive will also allow member states to confiscate the assets of someone sentenced in absentia, who has fled or been reported missing. It will also be possible to confiscate the assets of a suspect or someone accused of a crime who has transferred assets to a third party to avoid confiscation, a practice that is quite frequent. The directive will enter into force over the next few months, once formal adoption has been obtained in plenary session and in the Council. (SP/transl.fl)