The European Criminal Law Centre of Catania (CDPE) is pleased to announce the publication of the two-volume work Mutual Recognition of Freezing and Confiscation Orders between Efficiency and the Rule of Law, published by Pisa University Press in 2025 as part of the European Criminal Law Centre of Catania – New Series, directed by Professor Anna Maria Maugeri.
The publication represents the principal scientific outcome of the European project RECOVER (Grant Agreement No. 101091375), co-funded by the European Union Justice Programme 2021–2027 and coordinated by the University of Catania. The project brought together universities, members of the judiciary, judicial authorities and Asset Recovery Offices from several European Union Member States with the aim of analysing the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2018/1805 on the mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders, promoting its uniform and effective application in full compliance with the principles of the rule of law.
The two volumes collect the scientific contributions developed throughout the project and provide an in-depth analysis of the principal theoretical and practical issues arising from the implementation of the Regulation. Among the topics addressed are the scope of application of the Regulation, the concept of proceedings in criminal matters, the different models of freezing and confiscation, procedural safeguards, the protection of fundamental rights, cross-border judicial cooperation, the role of Asset Recovery Offices, the management of frozen and confiscated assets, victims’ rights, and the new perspectives introduced by Directive (EU) 2024/1260.
The work is further enriched by country reports, operational guidelines, policy recommendations and proposals for reform based on the experience gained across the participating jurisdictions. It therefore constitutes a valuable resource for academics, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, researchers and practitioners engaged in European judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
With this publication, the European Criminal Law Centre of Catania reaffirms its commitment to promoting scientific research and fostering dialogue between academia and European institutions, thereby contributing to the advancement of European criminal law scholarship and the strengthening of judicial cooperation mechanisms within the European Union.
In line with the project’s commitment to the dissemination of scientific knowledge, the volumes are available in Open Access and may be freely consulted and downloaded at the following link:
https://recover.lex.unict.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Handbook_compressed.pdf
