Law & Justice

EU Plans "Multi-Speed" Prosecutor's Office

March 30, 2017

EurActiv reports that EU leaders have bypassed concerns from countries that an EU Public Prosecutors' Office will become a centralized justice ministry that takes competences from EU member states by brokering an "enhanced cooperation" deal permitting EU members the choice whether to recognize the powers of this new EU prosecutorial body.
ECJ Permits Employer Bans on Religious Symbols

March 30, 2017

An outline of a recent Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) case by attorneys from the law firm Littler highlights the significant impact of the case, in which the ECJ ruled that employers may ban employees from wearing Islamic headscarves but only if they are implementing a "neutral" policy that applies to all religious symbols, on businesses throughout the EU.
EU Proposes Action Plan on Illicit Drugs

March 30, 2017

The European Commission has proposed a new EU Action Plan to combat the use of illicit drugs in the bloc, calling for enhanced EU capacities and legislation to counter drug demand and supply and to further international cooperation.
Austria Proposes EU Funding Cuts over Refugee Quotas

March 20, 2017

Prior to a recent EU summit, Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern stated that he would discuss with other EU member states cutting the bloc's funding to countries such as Poland and Hungary if they fail to meet their EU-imposed quotas on the resettlement of of refugees within their territories.
UK Official Considers EU Arrest Warrant a "Priority"

March 20, 2017

In remarks to the UK House of Commons, Home Secretary Amber Rudd has confirmed that the British Government sees retention of access to the European Arrest Warrant, which permits EU governments to require other countries to arrest and send criminal suspects to their territory for trial, as a "priority" in upcoming Brexit negotiations.
ECJ Denies Authority over "Humanitarian" Visas

March 17, 2017

The Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ), declining to follow the decision of an Advocate-General finding that EU member states must issue humanitarian visas in accordance with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, has held that it has no jurisdiction under EU law over Belgium's decision not to issue such a visa to a Syrian family.
UK Faces Obstacles in Withdrawing from ECJ

March 17, 2017

An article in The Economist highlights the tension between the UK government's dual goals of maintaining a close trade relationship with the EU following its departure from the bloc and its desire to take back control of its laws from the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ).
Hannan Highlights UK-EU Legal Incompatibility

March 16, 2017

British Member of the European Parliament Daniel Hannan explains how the European Parliament's vote to lift French politician Marine le Pen's immunity against prosecution by French authorities for tweeting photos of violent acts by the Islamic State shows the "fundamental incompatibility" of Continental legal systems to the common law of the UK.
NGOs Seek EU Sanctions Against Poland

March 01, 2017

In a letter to the European Commission, a group of nongovernmental organizations call on the institution to respond to what they call a "systemic threat to the rule of law" and human rights violations in Poland by activating a sanctions procedure through which the Polish government could lose its ability to participate in EU decision-making.
EU Threatens Five Countries on Emissions

March 01, 2017

The European Commission has issued "final warnings" to Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the UK for violating EU air quality standards with nitrogen dioxide emissions, particularly from diesel-powered vehicles, threatening the countries with potential action in the Court of Justice of the EU if they do not take action to reduce emissions.