The European Union and eight countries signed an additional protocol to the Warsaw Convention in Strasbourg on October 14. The Council of Europe lists Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and the United Kingdom alongside the EU.

The instrument addresses freezing and confiscating criminal proceeds, management of seized assets, money-laundering prevention and cooperation among police and judicial authorities. Its purpose is to strengthen tools used when assets and investigations cross national borders.

The protocol was adopted by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on May 15 and opened for signature at the Octopus conference. The Council of Europe treaty process is distinct from European Union lawmaking.

Signature is not the same as entry into force. The European Commission says EU conclusion of the protocol and the underlying convention will require further Council decisions and European Parliament consent. The immediate development is a formal commitment to proceed, not automatic implementation of every measure.