Brussels, 17/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 14 March, the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted the directive on the freezing and confiscation of the proceeds of crime in the EU, which aims to make it easier for national authorities to confiscate and recover the profits made by criminals from cross-border and organised crime. It provides more possibilities for confiscating proceeds of crime in cases of the flight of the person concerned or illness (when it is impossible for the suspect or accused person to attend the criminal proceedings for a longer period of time, meaning that the proceedings cannot continue under normal conditions). It also provides for rules on extended powers of confiscation, thus making confiscation easier when a judge is convinced that the property in question has been obtained through crime. The rules also cover property confiscated for reasons of public interest or for social purposes. The European Parliament adopted these rules on 25 February. (SP)