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The evolution of European Union criminal law (1957-2012)

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After 1985, indirect requests for Member States to use their national <strong>law</strong> as a means to<br />

protect EC interests, were also further expanded to other domains <strong>of</strong> <strong>criminal</strong>ity with<br />

measures adopted on money laundering, drugs and weapons control as well as insider<br />

dealing practices. In these measures, the use <strong>of</strong> <strong>criminal</strong> <strong>of</strong>fences and penalties by the<br />

national legislator was implied or even, on occasion, referred to in a direct way.<br />

Intervention in drug related matters was said to be essential for the completion <strong>of</strong> the<br />

single market, particularly related to the correct application <strong>of</strong> <strong>law</strong> and customs<br />

regulations in agricultural matters. 206 <strong>The</strong> Council noted that it was important in this<br />

context “that each Member State provide for sufficiently dissuasive penalties.” 207<br />

<strong>The</strong>refore, a Regulation laying down measures to be taken to discourage the diversion <strong>of</strong><br />

certain substances to the illicit manufacture <strong>of</strong> narcotic drugs and psychotropic<br />

substances, for instance, provided for the introduction <strong>of</strong> measures<br />

“…to monitor trade between the Community and third countries in substances<br />

frequently used for the illicit manufacture <strong>of</strong> narcotics drugs and psychotropic<br />

substances for the purposes <strong>of</strong> preventing the diversion <strong>of</strong> such substances.” 208<br />

<strong>The</strong> Regulation went beyond monitoring by providing that<br />

“Each Member State shall determine the penalties to be applied for infringement <strong>of</strong> the<br />

provisions <strong>of</strong> this Regulation. <strong>The</strong> penalties shall be sufficient to promote compliance<br />

with those provisions.” 209<br />

Likewise, Directive 91/308 on the prevention <strong>of</strong> the use <strong>of</strong> the financial system for the<br />

purpose <strong>of</strong> money laundering was adopted. Strikingly, the use <strong>of</strong> <strong>criminal</strong> <strong>law</strong> at the<br />

national level was specifically mentioned in the preamble. 210 Moreover, the body <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Directive did not make express reference to <strong>criminal</strong> provisions, yet article 14 <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Directive held that<br />

206<br />

Preamble <strong>of</strong> the Council Regulation (EEC) No 3677/90 <strong>of</strong> 13 December 1990 laying down<br />

measures to be taken to discourage the diversion <strong>of</strong> certain substances to the illicit manufacture<br />

<strong>of</strong> narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, OJ L 357/1 [1990].<br />

207<br />

Ibid..<br />

208<br />

Article 1, ibid..<br />

209<br />

Article 8, ibid..<br />

210<br />

Preamble <strong>of</strong> the Council Directive 91/308/EEC <strong>of</strong> 10 June 1991 on prevention <strong>of</strong> the use <strong>of</strong> the<br />

financial system for the purpose <strong>of</strong> money laundering, OJ L 166/77 [1991].<br />

58

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