Today the European Parliament set clear milestones and concrete guidelines to develop an EU strategy to fight against organised crime and mafia by adopting ALDE MEP Sonia Alfano's (Italia dei Valori, Italy) report. By using the new legislative opportunities available under the Treaty of Lisbon, Alfano's report calls for providing new instruments at EU level, in terms of both judicial and policing cooperation and of authorities responsible for countering transnational organised crime (Europol, Eurojust, OLAF, European Public Prosecutor).

"The EU legal framework and strategy are still not adequate to fight the globalised phenomenon of organised crime and mafia which is increasing and developing in new and more sophisticated forms. An EU strategy is needed now," she said.   

According to Alfano's report, in fact, there is alarming evidence that organised crime infiltration has become solidly entrenched in political circles, the public sector and legitimate economic activities. Only in 2010 the mafia-style criminal organisations operating in Europe benefited from an impressive turnover, estimated to be at least EUR 135 billion; more than the total annual budget of the European Union.

Through this report the Parliament gives specific instructions to the Commission, including that "it must come up with a directive to make associating with mafia or other criminal rings punishable as a crime in all Member States, as well as mobilise the appropriate resources, including financial, to support them in this fight. It must develop more coordinated measures between Member States and the existing EU authorities responsible in line with the severity of the situation. The main aim is to effectively prevent their activities by also taking their assets away, which could be spent for social purposes, and not least to promote a culture of law and justice."