Law & Justice

Article Calls for More EU Pressure on Poland, Hungary

September 15, 2017

In a recent article for Carnegie Europe, former Austrian official Stefan Lehne calls on EU member states to join the EU institutions in placing pressure on Central European members Hungary and Poland to respect Western values, lamenting that a "sovereignty reflex" within some countries has been a "major constraint on the supranational oversight" of such principles.
Polish PM Rejects EU "Blackmail" over Refugees

September 14, 2017

In a recent interview, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło asserted that her government refused to be "blackmailed" by threats from EU institutions to cut off funding for Polish projects if it continues to reject the resettlement of asylum seekers from the Middle East and North Africa in the country.
EU Official Describes Basis of Rule of Law Mechanism

September 01, 2017

In testimony before a European Parliament committee, European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said he would discuss potential action on Polish legislation on the country's courts with the College of Commissioners and asserted that the EU must use its expansive Rule of Law Mechanism to ensure the correct application of EU law across the bloc.
Hungarian Official Demands EU Payment for Border Fences

September 01, 2017

EUobserver reports that the Hungarian Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Janos Lazar has demanded that the EU reimburse Hungary for half of the €800 million it has spent erecting barriers along its borders with Serbia and Croatia, asserting that the fences help keep illegal migrants out of the bloc.
EU Faces Dozens of Lawsuits over Spanish Bank Closure

August 31, 2017

Reuters reports that, in one of the largest legal challenges the supranational organization has faced, investors have filed 51 lawsuits against the EU in the bloc's General Court asserting that EU regulators violated the law by ordering the closure of Banco Popular in Spain and requiring the use of investor money to wind down the failing bank.
Poland Criticizes EU Intervention on Courts

August 30, 2017

Politico reports that, in response to a "Rule of Law Recommendation" in which the European Commission directed Poland to roll back recent changes to the country's judiciary, the Polish government has released a statement criticizing the intervention as politically motivated and asserting that the changes "are in line with European standards."
German Court Reserves Power to Sidestep ECJ

August 25, 2017

Bloomberg reports that, in a recent ruling on the authority of the European Central Bank to engage in certain bond-buying practices, the German Federal Constitutional Court reserved the power not to apply rulings of the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) allowing EU institutions to "blatantly" overstep their mandates.
Booth: UK, EU Move Closer to Dispute Resolution Deal

August 24, 2017

Stephen Booth of think tank Open Europe writes that a recent policy paper released by the UK government outlining potential "dispute resolution" mechanisms to which UK and EU courts might submit after Brexit places Britain within striking distance of the EU negotiating position, but its impact will depend on the "scope and depth" of agreements on the UK-EU post-Brexit relationship.
UK Paper Sparks Debate on Implications for Future ECJ Role

August 24, 2017

A policy paper from the UK government exploring options related to the remit of the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) in Britain after Brexit has sparked debate over whether the document signals a "climbdown" from previous government positions on leaving the ECJ or merely recognizes practical realities involved in enforcing future trade and immigration deals with the EU.
UK Confirms End to "Direct" ECJ Jurisdiction After Brexit

August 23, 2017

Reuters reports that a new paper from the British Government confirms its plans to end the "direct jurisdiction" of the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) in the UK after the country leaves the EU, though officials stated that British courts may continue to take into account ECJ decisions in post-Brexit judgments.