Legal Dialogue

The Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans has once again called on the Romanian government to renounce its planned judicial reform. The Commission sees the independence of the judges and the separation of powers in danger. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has rejected the accusations. What fate awaits Romania now?
Source: eurotopics.net

The EU Commission has referred Poland to the European Court of Justice for forcing top judges into retirement. It argues that the government in Warsaw's reform of the country's Supreme Court undermined the principle of judicial independence. Commentators welcome the step but fear it comes too late.
Source: eurotopics.net

The European Parliament is under no obligation to disclose how its members spend expense allowances totalling more than €100 million per year, the General Court of the European Court of Justice said in a ruling Tuesday. Verdict branded ’embarrassing’ by journalist who brought the case.
Source: politico.eu

On September 27, the Russian State Duma adopted the second reading of legislation that will raise the country’s retirement age from 55 to 60 for women and from 60 to 65 for men. The revised legislation softens some aspects of the original legislation (the hike to women’s pension age is now three years fewer, and certain pension benefits will remain unchanged).
Source: meduza.io

Open Society Foundations has filed a suit in the European Court of Human Rights against Hungary over “Stop Soros laws.”The laws enacted in Hungary include “a 25 percent tax on funding for any activities and organizations that promote or positively portray migration” and making it illegal for “individuals or civil society organizations to support asylum or residence applications.”
Source:  jurist.org

Italy's government has approved tougher asylum laws. Among other measures the proceedings of applicants who are deemed to be "socially dangerous" or have been convicted of a crime are to be suspended.
Source: eurotopics.net

Head of the presidential Human Rights Council (HRC), Mikhail Fedotov, suggested to legitimize sending from pre-trial detention facilities to prison colonies those people, who have been convicted but whose sentences have not yet come into force.
Source: meduza.io

The canton of St Gallen has become the second in Switzerland to vote in favor of a ban on facial coverings in public. The Swiss also voted against a measure promoting organic and sustainable agriculture.
Source: dw.com

Poland was suspended from the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary on Monday because the body that nominates the country’s judges is no longer seen as being independent of political control.
Source: politico.eu