The prison population fell in almost all European countries last year. Many detainees were released to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and meanwhile the crime rate also declined. The largest drop in prison numbers was in Turkey. However, in certain countries the incarcerated population increased.

The European Commission has been opening 78 new infringement procedures per month against the member states in 2020. Spain continues to be the country with the largest number of pending procedures (100), closely followed by the UK and Greece.

The discovery in the last few years of large gas reserves in the region has whetted appetites in Ankara, which has been forcefully demanding its piece of the pie, even at the risk of contesting the limits of respective economic zones as well as provoking the EU’s intervention and threatening the region’s stability.

Many member states are struggling to implement regulations and directives enacted by the EU. Data provides insight in their ability to avoid potential infringement procedures and sanctions, and to maintain ties with the EU.  

InfringEye, EDJNet’s tool for exploring current litigations between the European Commission and EU member states, has been updated to include the latest data. We offer an overview of the last ten months, and the ability to download datasets for each member state. 

InfringEye is a data-driven tool developed by EDJNet, making it easier for journalists and citizens to understand the EU's infringement mechanisms, and to monitor past and ongoing procedures. Here are some of the main findings.

Lithuania is the EU country with the highest rate of inmates in relation to the population, but prison overcrowding is the highest in Hungary.

Since the turn of the century, the Old Continent stands out as the only macro-region experiencing declining numbers in its prison population. However, positive developments in Russia are key in explaining the trend. The EU benefits from the positive dynamics in Eastern and Central Europe. Recent data for Italy are worrisome.

Since the end of 2015, relations between the European Union and the Polish government have been fraught with tensions concerning Warsaw's breach of the rule of law and fundamental European values. To bring some clarity to the issue, Biqdata provides the background.