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Denmark has passed legislation allowing it to relocate asylum seekers to third countries outside the European Union while their cases are reviewed. The project, proposed by the Social Democrat-led government, would seek partner countries to run camps and fund agencies along migration routes. But the European Commission said it had concerns about the law, and a leading NGO said it was irresponsible.

Source: BBC

A group of citizens in Bulgaria are trying to take the authorities of Sofia to court over harmful levels of air pollution in the capital. More than half of the city’s air quality monitoring stations recorded illegal levels of PM10 particles pollution more than 35 times over the course of 2020. Sofia’s authorities have a plan to improve air quality in the city, but the six citizens argue it does not go far enough.

Source: Euronews

The legal definition of rape under Czech law requires violence or the threat of violence, or an abuse of the victim’s inability to defend themselves. Campaigners argue that this definition is far too narrow and contributes to the tiny number of rapes that are reported in the country. Two NGOs, together with Amnesty International are calling on Czech politicians to support a bill expanding the definition of rape.

Source: The Guardian

Investigative journalism in Europe needs "legal" protection from the growing problem of malicious law suits, the European Commission and MEPs have said. The Commission is to put forward new measures to protect journalists later this year, including a "legislative component" as well as non-binding recommendations, EU values commissioner Věra Jourová said.

Source: EU Observer

The Russian government has submitted a bill to the State Duma, which would allow for imposing visa and financial sanctions against any foreign citizen and stateless person. The proposed amendments would be made to the “Dima Yakovlev law,” which currently only allows for imposing sanctions against U.S. citizens.

Source: Meduza

Large parts of Greece shut down on Thursday as workers across the country joined a general strike to protest a proposed labor reform. Workers' organisations have called for rejection of a controversial bill that they fear will dismantle the eight-hour work day. Demonstrations are planned across the country.

Source: DW

The European Commission launched legal proceedings against Germany over a controversial ruling at the country's constitutional court, arguing that "the integrity" of EU law was at stake. The underlying dispute broke out last year when the German constitutional court ruled that the European Central Bank’s 2015 bond-buying program would be illegal under German law unless the central bank could prove the purchases were justified.

Source: Politico

Hungary's ruling nationalist party, Fidesz, has submitted legislation to ban content it sees as promoting homosexuality and gender change to minors. The draft law would ban LGBT literature for under-18s, including educational material, and advertisements deemed to be promoting gay rights. Several human rights groups denounced it, saying it was similar to Russian restrictions on LGBT activities.

Source: BBC

Slovenia has passed a new law which means rape is now defined as sex without consent in a move campaigners hailed as a “historic victory” for women. The country’s criminal code will no longer consider coercion, the use or threat of force, or not being able to defend oneself as the only conditions for an assault to be deemed as rape.

Source: Independent