Extortion racketeering has long been pointed out as
the defining activity of organised crime. It has also
been identified as one of the most effective tools
used by organised crime in the accumulation of
financial resources and the penetration of the legal
economy. Although in recent years this crime has not
been among the top listed organised crime threats in
the strategic EU policy documents, it still remains ever
present in European countries. The seriousness of the
phenomenon has been recognised at the EU level
and the crime has been listed in a number of EU legal
acts in the field of police and judicial cooperation in
criminal matters.