Law & Justice

Germany Pays Benefits to 260,000 Children Living Abroad

August 15, 2018

The Express reports that the German Finance Ministry has determined citizens of other EU member states working in Germany are claiming monthly child benefits for over 260,000 children living outside the country, leading critics to warn that EU rules encourage benefits shopping in rich EU countries.
UK Report Finds Widespread Rights Abuses in EAW Countries

August 15, 2018

An analysis published by UK campaign group Due Process finds that, given the major problems in countries within the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) system regarding violations of the rights to a fair trial and against torture, the UK must require a broad reform of the EAW prior to agreeing to remain in the system after Brexit.
ECJ Adviser: Courts Cannot Reject UK Arrest Warrants Before Brexit

August 08, 2018

Advocate-General of the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) Maciej Szpunar has advised the ECJ to rule that national courts in the EU cannot reject a European Arrest Warrant issued by Britain prior to its withdrawal from the EU, finding that the UK has not decided “to abandon the rule of law or the protection of fundamental rights” after Brexit.
EU Copyright Ruling Restricts Secondary Online Photo Posting

August 08, 2018

The Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) has held that, under EU copyright law, a school was not permitted to post a photograph from a student presentation to its website without permission for the photographer, even though the photographer had given permission for the use of the image on the travel website from which the student copied the image.
EU Official Warns of Security Risk of “Golden Passports”

August 08, 2018

AP reports that European Commissioner for justice Věra Jourová has called on EU member states to ramp up restrictions preventing the awarding of citizenship to criminals, warning that so-called “golden passports” for people without a genuine link to the country concerned are a regional security risk due to EU rules on freedom of movement.
Polish Court Asks ECJ to Consider Retirement Law

August 06, 2018

AP reports that the Polish Supreme Court has asked the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) for an advisory opinion on whether a Polish law lowering the mandatory retirement age for the Court’s judges complies with EU law relating to the fundamental rights and values of the bloc.
Netherlands Submits to EU Public Prosecutor’s Office

August 06, 2018

The European Commission has confirmed the Netherlands as the 21st EU country to submit to the authority of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which investigates crimes, such as fraud and corruption, related to misuse of the EU budget through prosecutors stationed in Brussels and in each participating member state.
EU Official Seeks Market Integration by Targeting Games, Apparel

August 06, 2018

Politico reports that European Commissioner for competition Margrethe Vestager is pursuing video game and sports apparel companies as her final opportunity to tackle online business sales practices providing for pricing on a country-by-country basis in an effort toward establishing a single digital EU market for goods.
Antitrust Experts Question Merits of EC’s Google Case

August 06, 2018

New York Times columnist James Stewart examines the merits of the European Commission’s (EC) Google antitrust case and finds the EC’s assertion of abuse of market dominance related to the pre-installation of Google apps on Android devices unsatisfying in light of the ease with which consumers can download competing apps.
Amnesty Pushes for EU Scrutiny of Hungarian NGO, Assembly Laws

August 03, 2018

Amnesty International has published an article calling for EU leaders to follow up their launch of infringement proceedings against Hungary’s treatment of asylum seekers with legal pressure on Hungarian legislation providing for a tax on nongovernmental organizations deemed to be “supporting migration” and permitting police to ban certain assemblies.