Law & Justice

EU Official Threatens Breakup of Google

May 08, 2018

Reuters reports that European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager has warned that the Commission has not ruled out ordering the breakup of Google due to "grave suspicions" regarding the American tech giant's dominance.
Scottish Court Allows Brexit Reversal Claim to Proceed

May 07, 2018

The Guardian reports that a Scottish appeals court has ordered a lower court to examine a claim filed by a group of politicians seeking to establish that the UK government has the authority to halt the country's exit from the EU without the permission of other EU member states.
EC Plans to Link Development Funding with Rule of Law

May 02, 2018

Reuters reports that the European Commission (EC) is preparing a proposal for an EU budget instrument conditioning development funding for EU members on adherence to "rule of law" norms, in an attempt to unify the bloc by threatening with funding cuts countries that fail to abide by the bloc's fundamental values.
EC Official Rejects Polish Explanation of Judicial Changes

April 26, 2018

European Commission (EC) First Vice-President Frans Timmermans has dismissed a 94-page paper from the Polish government explaining the reasons its recent judicial changes comply with EU standards and are "inspired" by the systems of other EU members, arguing that the paper is "not the answer" to the EC proceedings against Poland for rule-of-law violations.
Barnier Insists on Inclusion of ECJ in Brexit Deal

April 25, 2018

Politico reports that, in recent remarks, the European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has insisted that the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) play a permanent role in overseeing and enforcing the UK's and EU's execution of the terms of any deal on the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
ECJ Permits Challenge to EU Importation Decision

April 25, 2018

The Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) recently recognized the right of a nonprofit institute to challenge the European Commission's (EC) decision to permit the importation of genetically modified soybeans into the EU, rejecting the EC's argument that the legislation used by the institute applies only to environmental risks and not to consumer health concerns.
Irish Court Provokes Rule-of-Law Debate with EAW Case

April 23, 2018

The Irish Times reports that a former Polish judge is describing "as a nuclear bomb and a good day for the rule of law" the referral by an Irish court to the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) of the question whether Ireland must comply with a Polish removal request under the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) regime due to Poland's recent judicial changes.
EU Official Calls for "Concrete" Roll-back of Polish Judicial Reforms

April 20, 2018

While allowing that the EU has no mandate to decide whether Poland has a "right to reform its judicial system," European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans asserted that the only way the EU-Poland conflict can be resolved is through "concrete" amendments to the Polish judicial legislation.
EC Takes Finland to Court over Bird Hunting

April 20, 2018

Highlighting the extent to which EU policy influences a range of local environmental decisions throughout the bloc, the European Commission (EC) recently referred the Government of Finland to the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) for illegal hunting of male wild birds called eiders in a province of the country.
Poland Argues Judicial Reforms Align with EU Practices

April 20, 2018

Politico reports that the Polish Government has sent the European Commission and European capitals a "white book" seeking to explain how its recent judicial reforms bring the country in line with the practice of other EU member states and asserting that the changes even strengthen the independence of the country's judiciary.