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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13822
Contents Publication in full By article 39 / 44
NEWS BRIEFS / Justice

European Public Prosecutor’s Office launches an operation against a VAT fraud ring involving more than €103 million in luxury car trade

05/03/26 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 4 March, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) announced the launch of a major operation against a criminal network suspected of orchestrating cross-border VAT fraud in the luxury car trade, causing an estimated loss of €103 million. The investigation, dubbed ‘Emily’, led to the arrest of nine suspects in the Czech Republic and Germany, as well as more than 150 searches in nine Member States. More than 1,100 tax and police investigators took part in the operation, seizing luxury cars, cash and works of art worth more than €13.5 million. According to the EPPO, the network used a ‘carousel’ fraud scheme to avoid VAT on intra-EU transactions. The events occurred between 2017 and 2025. (NP)

Contents

WAR IN MIDDLE EAST
MIDDLE EAST: EU and GCC foreign ministers call for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve crisis
MIGRATION: “no significant outward migration” from Middle East, assures Magnus Brunner, who is counting on ‘Asylum Pact’ to deal with this eventuality
ENERGY: no “immediate” risk to security of oil and gas supplies, repeats European Commission
EU2026CY: informal ministerial meetings scheduled for March in Cyprus disrupted
CIVIL PROTECTION: ten EU countries activate the ‘rescEU’ mechanism to facilitate repatriation of their citizens from Middle East
SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION: strategy on return of irregular migrants struggling to take shape at EU Council
HOME AFFAIRS: ability of Europol to access Member States databases debated by Home Affairs Ministers
JUSTICE: European Public Prosecutor’s Office was investigating fraud worth €67 billion at end of last year, according to its 2025 annual report
CONSUMERS: 2025, a record year for hazard alerts on products entering EU
ENERGY: Renew Europe group in European Parliament calls for real strategy for deployment of small modular reactors in Europe
AGRICULTURE: EU Council and European Parliament agree on ban of term ‘steak’ for plant-based products
AGRICULTURE: MEPs call for increase in post-2028-2034 CAP budget
DIGITAL: EU27 refines position in third draft proposal on revision of AI Act
COMPETITIVENESS: nature conservation, ‘digital’, defence - Helsinki proposes simplification amendments for 40 European regulations
COMPETITIVENESS: China Chamber of Commerce to EU severely criticises proposed Industrial Accelerator Act
COMPETITIVENESS: Industrial Accelerator Act has loopholes, according to T&E and UNIFE
RESEARCH: European Committee of Regions calls for a regionally-focused Startup strategy to boost Europe’s competitiveness
INSTITUTIONAL
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: EPP group in European Parliament “has chosen Donald Trump’s camp, not Europe’s”, deplores vice-president of S&D Group
BUDGET: MEPs adopt their guidelines for 2027, last year of current Multiannual Financial Framework
BUDGET: European Committee of Regions estimates that next long-term budget should amount to 1.27% of EU’s gross national income
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
GENDER EQUALITY: European Commission presents its 2026-2030 strategy, placing cyber-violence, health and economic equality at heart of its priorities
SOCIETY: European Commission adopts its first Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness to give young people a greater say in future decisions
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: European rules on coordination of social security schemes - Cyprus counting on key meetings on 9 and 10 March to move towards agreement
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: European Fisal Board warns against “mechanical” application of Stability and Growth Pact
ECB: Frankfurt institute experts fear effects of growing use of stablecoins on monetary policy in euro area
ECB: “path to payment sovereignty runs through competitiveness, not protection”, European ‘ECRI’ institute declares
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
SPACE: CEPS puts forward five measures to make European space sector more competitive
EXTERNAL ACTION
MIDDLE EAST: MEPs from S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left groups call for increased vigilance on situation in Palestine
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
BIODIVERSITY: Portugal again condemned for violating Habitats Directive
SOCIAL/MIGRATION: Court of Justice clarifies conditions for granting social assistance to third-country nationals established in EU
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: Secretary General of Council of Europe calls for security framework for Europe where Strasbourg-based organisation would play key role
HEALTH: Council of Europe adopts new ‘Strategic Plan for Human Rights in Biomedicine and Health’
NEWS BRIEFS
STATE AID: green light for Spanish scheme to support investments in electric vehicle value chain
AGRICULTURE: EU Council adopts rules to combat unfair cross-border trading practices
CLIMATE: EU Council validates 2040 climate target
COMPETITIVENESS: Christophe Grudler appointed European Parliament lead rapporteur on Industrial Accelerator Act
COMPETITIVENESS: European Container Glass Federation welcomes industrial acceleration plan, but wants urgent action on energy prices
INTERNAL MARKET: European Commission asks about territorial supply constraints
JUSTICE: European Public Prosecutor’s Office launches an operation against a VAT fraud ring involving more than €103 million in luxury car trade
MERCOSUR: EU Council approves trade agreement’s safeguard clause
DIGITAL: European Commission wants to bring together experts in “frontier AI”
DIGITAL: European committee for protection of minors online begins its work
SWITZERLAND: EU and Switzerland sign agreement on transferring air passenger data
TRANSPORT: EU Council adopts its negotiating position on road pricing structure for heavy-duty vehicles with trailers