Law & Justice

ECJ Narrows Grounds for Members' Expulsion of Criminals

September 19, 2016

The Court of Justice of the EU has held that EU law does not permit member states to pass laws providing for the expulsion of non-EU citizens from the bloc solely based on the fact that they have a criminal record when they are the sole caregiver of a citizen of an EU country.
Report Suggests Monitoring Mechanism on EU Values

September 16, 2016

A report from the European Parliamentary Research Service examining proposals from Member of the European Parliament Sophie in 't Veld recommends that the EU consider creating a "pact" through which European institutions could "monitor and enforce" democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights in the EU member states.
EU Members Consider Claims to Apple Payout

September 14, 2016

AP reports that finance ministers from some EU member states are backing the European Commission's decision to require tech giant Apple to pay up to $21 billion in back taxes, with interest, to Ireland, as multiple governments consider staking a claim to part of the proceeds from the fine.
MEP: "Tax Deals" Violate EU Rules

September 09, 2016

In an interview on the European Commission's imposition of a €13 billion fine on tech company Apple for unpaid taxes, German Member of the European Parliament Markus Ferber argued that any government attempt to attract business investment by granting a "tax deal" is illegal under EU law.
Economist Predicts $20 Billion Apple Tax Bill

September 01, 2016

In a recent interview, economist Seamus Coffey predicted that the EU may force tech company Apple to pay over $20 billion to Ireland in back taxes following its recent ruling on the country's alleged state aid to the company, though there were not "substantial Apple profits being generated" in Ireland.
Ireland Defends Tax Policy Against EU Ruling

August 31, 2016

The Irish Independent reports on plans by the Irish Government to appeal an EU ruling that tech company Apple owes the country €13 billion in back taxes to the bloc's Court of Justice, arguing that "Apple paid all the tax that was due for their activities in Ireland."
EU Orders Apple to Pay €13 Billion in Back Taxes

August 30, 2016

Politico reports that tech giant Apple and the Irish government are protesting the European Commission's decision to require Apple to pay 13 billion euros in back taxes to Ireland due to an alleged violation of EU rules prohibiting "state aid," arguing that the fine ignores national authority over corporate taxation policy.
US Expresses Concerns with EU Tax Investigations

August 30, 2016

The US Department of the Treasury has issued a white paper describing its concerns with recent European Commission investigations of whether EU member state tax practices amounted to "state aid," arguing that the Commission's approach departs from previous case law and is unfair in seeking the retroactive recovery of taxes.
EU Plans Authorization Program for Visa-Free Travel

August 30, 2016

EurActiv reports that the European Commission is planning to introduce a program, similar to an initiative currently operating in the US that aims to track visitors to the country, to require travelers from countries that have a visa-free travel agreement with the EU to apply online for authorization to enter the bloc.
EU Releases "Rule of Law Opinion" on Poland

August 26, 2016

In spite of a provision in its "Framework to Strengthen the Rule of Law" requiring the confidentiality of "Rule of Law Opinions," the European Commission has released to the public its Rule of Law Opinion on the conflict between the Polish Government and Constitutional Tribunal in response to a freedom of information petition from a UK law professor.