Law & Justice

EU Centralizes, Expands Data Protection Policy

January 16, 2017

As part of its efforts to "complete the EU data protection framework," the European Commission has proposed legislation centralizing the formation of data protection policy at the EU level, banning all unsolicited electronic communications, and expanding the application of EU privacy rules to nontraditional electronic communications providers, such as Skype and Gmail.
UK Considers US-Style Deal with Europol

January 13, 2017

The Sun reports that British Prime Minister Theresa May is exploring the negotiation of a data-sharing deal with the EU law enforcement agency Europol based on the model of the agency's agreement with the US to maintain law enforcement links with the EU following Brexit.
EU Adds to Recommendations on Polish Conflict

January 04, 2017

European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans has announced that he will give the Polish government additional time to improve the country's "rule of law" situation, created by a conflict between the government and the country's Constitutional Tribunal, as the Commission delivers more recommendations on how to resolve the national dispute.
EU Deal Restricts Access to Firearms

January 04, 2017

Reuters reports that a deal recently agreed among the EU institutions will restrict access of Europeans to high-caliber firearms and will seek to facilitate the tracking of guns to prevent their entry into the black market.
EU Official Seeks New Action on Polish Court Conflict

December 30, 2016

European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans has pledged renewed action regarding recent policies from the Polish government on the country's Constitutional Tribunal that he says "threaten to deepen the rule of law crisis in Poland."
EU Court Outlaws Mass Data Retention Policies

December 28, 2016

Reuters reports that the Court of Justice of the EU has held that government rules requiring private companies to retain traffic and location data en masse to assist with law enforcement and counter-terrorism investigations violate EU privacy laws.
Apple Challenges EU Tax Demand in Court

December 21, 2016

In an appeal to the General Court of the EU over the European Commission's demand that Apple pay €13 billion in back taxes to the government of Ireland, the tech company and the Irish government asserted that the Commission had failed to act impartially and had violated "member state sovereignty in the area of direct taxation."
EU Takes France to Court over Bird Protection

December 21, 2016

The European Commission has filed a complaint against France in the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to adequately enforce an EU directive prohibiting the killing or capture of certain wild birds.
Denmark Strikes Deal with EU on Europol

December 16, 2016

EUobserver reports that, despite the result of a 2015 referendum in which Danish citizens voted to opt out of various EU justice and home affairs policy, Denmark's government and EU officials have negotiated a "back door" deal through which Denmark will continue to participate in the EU law enforcement agency Europol.
NGO Project Seeks EU "Ethnic Profiling" Standards

December 15, 2016

A group of "anti-racism" bodies, including the Open Society Justice Initiative, is calling for the EU institutions to set Europe-wide standards "to promote fair and effective policing" by preventing police from engaging in "ethnic profiling" in stopping people for searches and identity checks.