Law & Justice

EU Bodies Agree to Comprehensive Border Checks

December 15, 2016

The European Parliament and Council of the EU have agreed to legislation requiring EU member states to run the information of all travelers crossing the bloc's external borders, including citizens of EU countries, through a law enforcement database called the Schengen Information System.
Committee Backs EU Terror Framework

December 14, 2016

The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee has voted to support a deal among the EU institutions on comprehensive legislation criminalizing the preparation of terrorist acts in EU member states, including a clause demanded by the EU Parliament emphasizing that authorities must respect fundamental rights and freedoms.
ECJ Considers Status of Uber Under EU Law

December 07, 2016

The New York Times reports that the Court of Justice of the EU recently heard a case from Spain regarding whether EU law should classify the ride-sharing technology company Uber as a transportation service, in which case it would be forced to offer a range of employee benefits to drivers, or simply a digital platform to connect drivers and passengers.
EU Maintains Funding Despite National Budget Violations

November 22, 2016

Reuters reports that the European Commission, in line with its calls for a more lenient fiscal policy throughout the eurozone, has decided not to penalize Spain or Portugal for violating rules on excessive deficits by suspending funding for these countries next year.
UK Opts into EU Law Enforcement Agency

November 16, 2016

The Telegraph reports that, as the UK government prepares to renegotiate its relationship with the EU following the June referendum vote to leave the bloc, British officials have decided to opt back into Europol, the EU law enforcement and intelligence-sharing agency over which the Court of Justice of the EU exercises jurisdiction, prior to Brexit.
Germany Lobbies UK to Remain in Europol

November 07, 2016

The Guardian reports that German officials are lobbying the UK government, despite the latter's pending plans to exit the EU, to remain a partner of Europol as the European Parliament and EU member states are set to gain, in May 2017, more control over the functions of the EU law enforcement and intelligence agency.
UK Opts into EU Crime Database

November 02, 2016

The Independent reports that the UK government has decided to participate in the "Prüm Decision," which provides for EU countries to share a database of DNA samples, fingerprints, and vehicle registration information for law enforcement and counterterrorism purposes.
Poland: EU Oversteps Authority on Rule of Law Probe

October 31, 2016

EUobserver reports that the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has argued in a letter to the European Commission that its probe of the government's treatment of the country's Constitutional Tribunal under the EU Rule of Law Mechanism is biased and lacks "respect for sovereignty, subsidiarity, and national identity."
NGOs Succeed in EU Legal Aid Push

October 28, 2016

The nongovernmental organization Open Society Foundations has published an article detailing the close involvement of it and other NGOs in pressuring the EU to pass "comprehensive" legislation prescribing specific rules on how EU member states must provide legal aid to criminal defendants.
EU Parliament Calls for Watchdog on Justice and Rights

October 27, 2016

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling on the EU to establish a watchdog to administer a "binding EU mechanism" requiring member states "to monitor and report annually on their records" in the fields of democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights.