The national authorities of Belgium, Spain and Germany initiated investigations into an organised crime group (OCG) involved in a large-scale VAT fraud case that targeted numerous individuals and companies in Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Portugal and Romania.This case, a so-called “VAT Carousel Fraud Case”, began several years ago with an investigation in Spain. The OCG, mainly composed of German, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese nationals, created a network of computer and electronics companies throughout Europe to divert the illicit profit yielded in Spain. The criminals managed to avoid VAT payments in Spain and yet receive VAT reimbursements through the companies set up in other Member States by simulating their business operations.After the Spanish Desk opened a case at Eurojust, a coordination meeting was held last month between the national authorities involved to exchange case-related information and plan the common actions, ensuring that the necessary judicial cooperation instruments would be timely and effectively implemented on the action day.A coordination centre took place at Eurojust on 18 April to coordinate the simultaneous operations in the eight Member States concerned, which led to the arrest of the main suspects, more than 100 searches, the freezing of several bank accounts, as well as the seizure of assets, including cash and luxury cars. One company under investigation was estimated to have defrauded more than EUR 17 million over a two-year period.On the action day, Eurojust swiftly reacted to evolving judicial cooperation needs by facilitating the execution of European Arrest Warrants, European Investigation Orders and freezing orders on the spot. Europol participated in the coordination centre via a mobile office deployed in Spain, contributing to the successful outcome of the operations.
By Guido Lanfranchi.H.E. Dr. Hisham Al-Alawi is the new Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. A diplomat and a medical doctor, H.E. Dr. Al-Alawi succeeds to H.E. Mr. Saywan Barzani
Just a few days before Koningsdag, H.E. Dr. Hisham Al-Alawi presented the diplomatic credentials to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, thus formalizing his role as the new Iraqi Ambassador to The Netherlands. H.E. Dr. Al-Alawi, who arrives to The Netherlands after a post as Ambassador to Turkey, will represent Iraq to both the Dutch government and the many international organizations based in The Hague, such as the OPCW.
H.E. Dr. Hisham Al-Alawi, Republic of Iraq presenting credentials to The King of the Netherlands, H.M. King Willem Alexander.
In his dense career, H.E. Dr. Al-Alawi has been able to combine different roles and professions. On the one hand, he has pursued a high level diplomatic career. Since 2010, H.E. Dr. Al-Alawi has worked for the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holding relevant positions not only in Baghdad (as Head of Policy Planning Department and Medical Insurance Department), but also abroad (as Ambassador of Iraq to South Africa and Turkey).
On the other hand, H.E. Dr. Al-Alawi has also pursued a long-lasting career as a medical doctor. After his successful studies and early working experience at the College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, the Ambassador decided to move abroad. After three years in Libya, H.E. Dr. Al-Alawi spent more than fifteen years as a medical doctor in the United Kingdom, holding several positions across the UK.
H.E. Dr. Hisham Al-Alawi, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq at OPCW.
In his private life, H.E. Dr. Al-Alawi is an open, affable, and active person. The Ambassador is married, and he and his wife have two sons and one daughter.
Diplomat Magazine and the whole diplomatic community of The Netherlands warmly welcome H.E. Dr. Al-Alawi, and wish all the best of luck to him for his forthcoming enterprises!
By Barend ter Haar.
Anybody interested in recent Dutch history should see The Resistance Banker, a movie that is currently shown in many Dutch theaters. The original film, entitled Bankier van het verzetis in Dutch, so look for the version with English subtitles.It tells the story of how during the German occupation of the Netherlands during the Second World War a system was set up to finance the Dutch resistance.
It started with supporting the families of Dutch sailors. Most of them were at sea when Germany attacked the Netherlands and decided not to return to the Netherlands as long as it was occupied by the Nazis. To punish these sailors, the Germans prohibited disbursing their salaries to their wives and children. To support these families an underground Zeemanspot (Seamen-Fund) was set up.
However, there were much more people in need of financial assistance. Therefore a Landrottenfonds (Landlubbers-Fund) was set up, to be succeeded by the Nationaal Steun Fonds (National Aid Fund). This Nationaal Steun Fonds (NSF) supported not only the families of seamen, but also the families of resistance workers that were arrested, people that refused to work for the Germans, Jewish families in hiding, etc.
When in September 1944 a general railway strike was ordered and 30000 railway workers lost their regular income, the NSF took also care of them.The NSF distributed about 100 million guilders (currently worth approximately ā¬ 500 million) to 50000 addresses, thereby supporting about 150000 people.
Bankier van het verzetis.
Collecting, distributing and administrating so much money to so many destinations would have been a major operation in peace time, but in an occupied country where all this had to be done in utmost secrecy, it was a wonder that the system continued working until the very end of the war.
Of the 2000 people involved in distributing the money, 82 were arrested and killed by the Germans. Among those were the two founders of the NSF, Iman van den Bosch and Walraven van Hall.
At first, most of the necessary money consisted of gifts. Soon this had to be supplemented by loans that would be paid back after the war. To collect and to distribute the money and to administrate all this, an underground bank had to be set up.
This has been the work of Walraven (Wally) van Hall and his brother Gijs. They developed an ingenious system to cheat the Dutch National Bank that was governed by a pro-German director. Without using any violence, they robbed the bank of 50 million guilders.
The film The Resistance Banker rightly honours their courage and creativity.
The Hague, Netherlands ā 4 May 2018 ā In response to questions from the media, the OPCW Spokesperson stated that the OPCW would not be able to estimate or determine the amount of the nerve agent that was used in Salisbury on 4 March 2018.
The quantity should probably be characterised in milligrams. However, the analysis of samples collected by the OPCW Technical Assistance Visit team concluded that the chemical substance found was of high purity, persistent and resistant to weather conditions.
After 65 years, there will be peace on the 38th Parallel. The leaders of North and South Korea met for the first time this week, agreeing to end their decades-long conflict.
This was a precursor to the historic summit planned between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. President Trump will now work to completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, as the table is set for a truly historic and unprecedented summit.
By Lucia Puttrich, Minister of European and Federal Affairs and Representative of the State of Hessen at the Federal Government.
Hessen is a federal state, which is located in the middle of Europe and at the same time, deeply rooted to Europe. Through the airport in Frankfurt, one of most significant air traffic hubs of the world, and a large number of transnational companies, Hessen is globally oriented unlike any other German federal state.
Our universities in Hessen and research institutes have an excellent international reputation and have a wide-reaching international (contact) network. The control centre of the European Space Agency (ESA) ,located in Darmstadt, makes us Europeās doorstep into space. Finally, Frankfurt is also one of the most important financial centres on the European peninsula and hosts, in addition to the European Central Bank, several other financial institutions. The skyline of Frankfurt resembles that of an American metropole, therefore the city has received the nickname of āMainhattanā.
On the picture from left Lucia Puttrich, Ursula Bouffier, wife of Volker Bouffier, Prime Minister of Hesse, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Volker Bouffier. Photography by Hessische Staatskanzlei.
Keeping this in mind, it becomes self-evident that the state government of Hessen has a strong interest to have our position in Europe voiced and understood. This is my responsibility, which I enjoy fulfilling on a European level in Brussel and on a national level in Berlin.
With a combination of federal and European affairs, important decisions are made significantly faster. A lot of decisions, which are being made in Brussels, have to be further translated into the national law. The Federal Council, as the representative of the federal states, play a crucial role in these affairs.
Foto Michael von Lingen.
Both representatives are an important showcase of Hessen in Brussel and Berlin. Delegates, representatives of companies and several other politically interested people enjoy coming to Hessen in order to network with us and each other.
In Brussel, we are working close with several other regions, namely, Emilia-Romaga, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Wielkopolska, since we believe that regions play a vital role in the development of the European Union. In this regard, the federal structure of Germany plays a significant role.
Minister Puttrich, Hessen.
Citizens from Hessen are closely related to their home, which stands out for its distinctive dialect and traditional dishes. Dishes such as āHandkƤsā, āGrĆ¼ne SoĆeā and āEbbelwoiā are specialities that make the cuisine from Hessen remarkable. At the same time, we are dedicated Europeans and stand for a community based on similar norms and values. After two world wars, this community has provided the European continent with the longest phase of peace, freedom and wealth in its lengthy and ever-changing history. Neighbours and Enemies have turned into partners and friends. This united Europe can be regarded as a benchmark for several other regions in the world.
On the other hand, The European Union currently faces several challenges, of which the withdrawal of Great Britain from the European Union is just one. Never before, in the history of the union, has another country decided to leave.
Brexit will have significant effects on Hessen due to the international connections in economy and science within the federal state. Nevertheless, we also view this change as an opportunity to establish something new. The government of Hessen is working on providing this.
In a rapidly changing world we, as Europeans, have to face these upcoming tasks. I am convinced, that most of these tasks, such as the flow of migrants, can only be solved with partners outside of Europe. At the same time, I am also convinced that we will be able to do so.
As the Minister for the federal and European affairs of Hessen, I will provide my help in this.
By H.E. Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs.
– MsĀ Hyslop, everyone is acquainted toĀ the UKās Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, The Rt Hon Boris Johnson yet few are aware that through devolution Scotland is entitled to a degree of external (i.e. foreign) policy, which you embody since 2011. What is briefly your role as Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs?
To which degree is Scotland able to conduct a policy on external affairs, and which are the ongoingĀ priorities. My role is simply to promote Scotland where it is, and where she wants to be. Through devolution and normally through the Commonwealth Secretariat, we can engage with foreign governments, and in fact do, but in practice we accomplish much more. For example, in globally significant issues such as climate change, Scotland has exemplary legislation. From anywhere in the world, we have the most powerful wind turbine near Aberdeen, which is due to power up to 70% of the cityās energy needs, and we hope to expand this success to other cities.
We have world leading universities in Scotland, four in total before even the English counterparts such as Oxford were founded. Our research is likewise remarkable, and Germany is our main partner in the latter field in connection to our universities.
Our reach is global, we have Scottish offices in Beijing, in Washington D.C., Dublin, London, and now also in Berlin. This is an important statement from the Scottish Government to highlight the importance of Germany as our partner in Europe.
While we do not engage in defence policy, we have so much work to do promoting exports, trade, environmental protection and education.
H.E. Fiona Hyslop. Scotland is now – Picture by Scottish Government.–Ā Scotlandās Government is represented in London, Dublin, Brussels, Beijing and Washington DC. Now also in Berlin. Why Berlin, why Germany? Will the office liaiseĀ also for other countries?
Germany is number one vis-Ć -vis our university partnerships, number two concerning tourism and as trading market. This summer is particularly important, for Glasgow and Berlin are co-hosting the European Championships. People will be attending physically as well as watching all over Europe. What better example of European cooperation between Scotland and Germany?
The Berlinās officeās location allows us to combine increasing government contacts as well as the promotion of tourism, trade and research. In terms of historical connections, the links go back very far. For example, William Wallace in the XIII century wrote a letter encouraging ties with the Hanseatic League, chiefly cities in the German Empire.
We also wish to use our Berlin hub to reach out to Central Europe in particular. People may not be aware than almost half of EU nationals living in Scotland hail from Poland. Our Polish connections are very important for us as well. The Baltic States might also be included because of our Nordic-Baltic Strategy.
As you are likely aware when Scottish philosopher David Hume visited the then Holy RomanĀ Empire of the German Nation, he wrote that āshould Germany be united, it would make the greatest countryā in Europe. The Hanoverians once inherited the British throne through their Stuart consanguinity, and their descendants are still at the helm of the UK. Are you planning to build upon the historical bands between Germany and Scotland.
I am focusing on the future, and naturally understanding each other, which comes from fathoming the past. We would like to ensure that our connections have a focus on young people, hence the very first European Championships hosted jointly by Glasgow and Berlin are so important to us.
Culture will play a role during the event. For instance, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the University of Arts in Berlin will host a concert together, and there will be a plethora of opportunities for youngsters to convene. We want relations based on building a common future.
–Ā The Commonwealth of NationsĀ Summit 2018 was just held at London 19-20 April. What role plays Scotland within this free association of 53 sovereign states? What do you say to those who deem it as the prime alternative to EU membership?
For the Scottish Government remaining in the EU is the preferred choice, unfortunately some of the other parts of the United Kingdom voted to leave the Union, and that goes against our wishes. We shall endeavour to maintain the best ties with the EU, ideally within the Common Market. On the other side, many Scots left Scotland generations ago to all parts of what is today the Commonwealth. Hence you shall find many Canadian, New Zealanders or Australians, for example, with Scottish descent who maintain their ties with Scotland, and this encourages our contact with other countries.
Scotland also has a significant development aid budget, where we work with countries of the Commonwealth such as Malawi. In fact, our development aid has had a huge impact for the country, and the President of Malawi, Peter Mutharika recently paid a visit to Scotland to reinforce our connections. This is a practical example of our active diplomacy but also of the people-to-people contacts which are paramount for our external affairs.
For further information:Fiona Hyslop: https://beta.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/cabinet-secretary-culture-tourism-external-affairs/http://www.parliament.scot/msps/currentmsps/Fiona-Hyslop-MSP.aspxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiona_Hyslop
European Championships 2018 in Berlin and Glasgow: https://www.europeanchampionships.com
By H. E. Abdel Sattar Issa, Ambassador of Lebanon to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
I present my warmest greetings to the readers of Diplomat Magazine. I have the honour to be, since the 21st of February the new Ambassador of Lebanon to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The impressions, I have had of the Netherlands in these past few weeks, are of a beautiful country. The nature is well preserved, and the efficient sustainable development can be seen everywhere in the Dutch landscapes. The cities I have visited till now, privately or officially are all elegant, full of cultural and historical sites.
These two elements, a beautiful nature and a rich heritage, when mixed with the friendliness and open minded spirit of the Dutch people, give the formula that makes the Kingdom of the Netherlands one of the big tourist destinations in the world.
Lebanon āLe pays des CĆØdresā has this magic formula too. It is a small country. Itās surface is 10.452 Km, smaller than the Kingdom of the Netherlands by almost 4 times. The same applies regarding its population (4,6 millions). But Lebanon is a very rich and diverse country. The natural landscape is composed of a varied coastline, where sandy and rocky shores give the opportunity for multiple water sports all year long.
A second feature of the natural landscape in Lebanon is its mountains that culminate at the height of 3,088m. This makes my country one of the rare ski destinations in the Middle East with ski seasons that can last till the end of April. This fact means that tourists can enjoy snow skiing and the pristine waters of the Mediterranean in the same time.
Lebanon is also rich in its historical and cultural heritage. It has some historical sites dating back to 7000BC. The Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Ottomans, all passed, ruled and left their mark in these ancient lands. This explains why a small country like Lebanon has five sites on the UNESCO World heritage list: Anjar, Baalbeck, Byblos, Ouadi Quadisha, Tyre.
If the visitor does not have enough time to visit all the famous historical sites spread all around Lebanon, a half day spent at the National Museum in Beirut, would surely give him a condensed preview of the rich history of the country.
As for the lovers of cultural and artistic vibes, Beirut would give them a treat with its numerous galleries, theatres and music halls.
The third element of the magic formula, the friendliness of the Lebanese people is as famous as their exquisite cuisine, all over the world.
Composed of eighteen religious confessions, they are tolerant and open to all cultures of the world, and master in addition to Arabic, the French and English languages. This explains why Europeans find it easy to live and communicate in Lebanon.
I encourage the readers of Diplomat Magazines to visit my beautiful country. To help me in convincing them to do this trip, I present some pictures of Lebanon, cause as we say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Enjoy!
For additional information please visit the Ministry of Tourism of Lebanon, www.mot.gov.lbĀ Photography by the Ministry of Tourism of Lebanon.
David J. Goldfield is an author who spent many years in the international corporate word in banking and finance. He wrote āThe Ambassadorās Wordā finalist in Ottawa Book Awards, now being adapted into a feature length film. āThe Ambassadorās Wordā is a non-fiction narrative account of a major international hostage taking and the role of the Canadian Ambassador in Lima, Peru in 1996-97.
Now David J. Goldfield present his novel āInto the Volcanoā set in Latin America. It was researched during his time living and working in Panama over 10 years. A film adaptation is also currently being developed while he is now working in another novel set in India.
Frank Donahue, the protagonist of Into the Volcano, is playing a dangerous game in his role as an investigative journalist and publisher of Panama Express reporting on the vagaries of the corrupt government and other organizations.
Frank, an ex-US marine, figures he can take care of any trouble that might come along.
He is divorced, resigned to living his life alone, until Shauna, enters his life and asks him to help in tracking down her estranged husband, Paul, who has mysteriously disappeared.
For information:
In a rapidly changing world we, as Europeans, have to face these upcoming tasks. I am convinced, that most of these tasks, such as the flow of migrants, can only be solved with partners outside of Europe. At the same time, I am also convinced that we will be able to do so.
As the Minister for the federal and European affairs of Hessen, I will provide my help in this. 
In a rapidly changing world we, as Europeans, have to face these upcoming tasks. I am convinced, that most of these tasks, such as the flow of migrants, can only be solved with partners outside of Europe. At the same time, I am also convinced that we will be able to do so.
As the Minister for the federal and European affairs of Hessen, I will provide my help in this. 
The most recent edition of the BND, in cooperation with the Municipality of Rotterdam, took place in March 2018.
Officers from the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy and from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the CEO of the Port of Rotterdam, representatives from Shell and Petrobras, secretaries from the state of Rio Grande do Sul and a business delegation led by Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FIERGS) discussed opportunities in the sector of renewable energies, with emphasis on bioenergy.
Through initiatives like the BND, the Embassy of Brazil in The Hague facilitates business and investment opportunities for Brazilian and Dutch entrepreneurs.
As Brazil ushers in a new period of economic growth and development, the positive results of BND also show us, more than ever, that pursuing business opportunities in Brazil is mutually beneficial. 
The most recent edition of the BND, in cooperation with the Municipality of Rotterdam, took place in March 2018.
Officers from the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy and from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the CEO of the Port of Rotterdam, representatives from Shell and Petrobras, secretaries from the state of Rio Grande do Sul and a business delegation led by Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FIERGS) discussed opportunities in the sector of renewable energies, with emphasis on bioenergy.
Through initiatives like the BND, the Embassy of Brazil in The Hague facilitates business and investment opportunities for Brazilian and Dutch entrepreneurs.
As Brazil ushers in a new period of economic growth and development, the positive results of BND also show us, more than ever, that pursuing business opportunities in Brazil is mutually beneficial. 
Lebanon āLe pays des CĆØdresā has this magic formula too. It is a small country. Itās surface is 10.452 Km, smaller than the Kingdom of the Netherlands by almost 4 times. The same applies regarding its population (4,6 millions). But Lebanon is a very rich and diverse country. The natural landscape is composed of a varied coastline, where sandy and rocky shores give the opportunity for multiple water sports all year long.
A second feature of the natural landscape in Lebanon is its mountains that culminate at the height of 3,088m. This makes my country one of the rare ski destinations in the Middle East with ski seasons that can last till the end of April. This fact means that tourists can enjoy snow skiing and the pristine waters of the Mediterranean in the same time.
Lebanon is also rich in its historical and cultural heritage. It has some historical sites dating back to 7000BC. The Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Ottomans, all passed, ruled and left their mark in these ancient lands. This explains why a small country like Lebanon has five sites on the UNESCO World heritage list: Anjar, Baalbeck, Byblos, Ouadi Quadisha, Tyre.
If the visitor does not have enough time to visit all the famous historical sites spread all around Lebanon, a half day spent at the National Museum in Beirut, would surely give him a condensed preview of the rich history of the country.
As for the lovers of cultural and artistic vibes, Beirut would give them a treat with its numerous galleries, theatres and music halls.
The third element of the magic formula, the friendliness of the Lebanese people is as famous as their exquisite cuisine, all over the world.
Composed of eighteen religious confessions, they are tolerant and open to all cultures of the world, and master in addition to Arabic, the French and English languages. This explains why Europeans find it easy to live and communicate in Lebanon.
I encourage the readers of Diplomat Magazines to visit my beautiful country. To help me in convincing them to do this trip, I present some pictures of Lebanon, cause as we say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Enjoy!
Lebanon āLe pays des CĆØdresā has this magic formula too. It is a small country. Itās surface is 10.452 Km, smaller than the Kingdom of the Netherlands by almost 4 times. The same applies regarding its population (4,6 millions). But Lebanon is a very rich and diverse country. The natural landscape is composed of a varied coastline, where sandy and rocky shores give the opportunity for multiple water sports all year long.
A second feature of the natural landscape in Lebanon is its mountains that culminate at the height of 3,088m. This makes my country one of the rare ski destinations in the Middle East with ski seasons that can last till the end of April. This fact means that tourists can enjoy snow skiing and the pristine waters of the Mediterranean in the same time.
Lebanon is also rich in its historical and cultural heritage. It has some historical sites dating back to 7000BC. The Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Ottomans, all passed, ruled and left their mark in these ancient lands. This explains why a small country like Lebanon has five sites on the UNESCO World heritage list: Anjar, Baalbeck, Byblos, Ouadi Quadisha, Tyre.
If the visitor does not have enough time to visit all the famous historical sites spread all around Lebanon, a half day spent at the National Museum in Beirut, would surely give him a condensed preview of the rich history of the country.
As for the lovers of cultural and artistic vibes, Beirut would give them a treat with its numerous galleries, theatres and music halls.
The third element of the magic formula, the friendliness of the Lebanese people is as famous as their exquisite cuisine, all over the world.
Composed of eighteen religious confessions, they are tolerant and open to all cultures of the world, and master in addition to Arabic, the French and English languages. This explains why Europeans find it easy to live and communicate in Lebanon.
I encourage the readers of Diplomat Magazines to visit my beautiful country. To help me in convincing them to do this trip, I present some pictures of Lebanon, cause as we say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Enjoy!
