News Feed

08/10/2018

EU criticises Romania’s judicial reform

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
08/10/2018

Putin is watering down Russia’s controversial felony statute on ‘hate speech,’ but the news isn’t all good

Vladimir Putin submitted two pieces of draft legislation to the State Duma that would partially decriminalize “extremist” offenses under Criminal Code 282, which prohibits hate speech. Besides the obvious benefit that there will be fewer felony cases against harmless Internet content, these new amendments have several drawbacks.
Source: meduza.io
08/10/2018

Finland parliament adds exception to constitutional right to privacy

The Parliament of Finland on Wednesday voted 178-13 to add an amendment to the constitution providing an exception to the right to privacy, providing the government with more ability to combat terrorism and foreign government spying. The amendment is specifically aimed at protecting confidential communications.
Source:  jurist.org
08/10/2018

Hungary, Poland challenge tighter EU labour rules in court

Hungary and Poland said they have gone to the European Court of Justice to challenge tighter European Union rules on the employment of workers from low-pay EU states. The issue of so-called "posted" workers has divided poor east and rich west EU states for years, with France leading efforts to tighten rules while Poland and Hungary have sought to block reforms.
Source: news.trust.org
08/10/2018

EU Parliament votes for tougher CO2 limits

The EU Parliament has declared war on CO2 emissions in transportation with new limits. From 2030 the CO2 emissions limit for new cars is to be on average 40 percent lower than for 2021. Negotiations with the EU Commission and the member states are next on the agenda. Is the Parliament jeopardising the future of Europe's automotive industry with its decision?
Source: eurotopics.net
15/10/2018

Dutch appeals court upholds landmark climate change ruling

A court in The Hague has upheld a historic legal order on the Dutch government to accelerate carbon emissions cuts, a day after the world’s climate scientists warned that time was running out to avoid dangerous warming.
Source: theguardian.com
15/10/2018

Europe rights court asked to weigh in on France surrogacy case

The French Court of Cassation announced on Friday its decision to request an advisory opinion from the European Court of Human Rights in a case that could have important consequences for couples who are unable to conceive naturally.
Source: jurist.org
15/10/2018

Press freedom in danger in Lithuania?

In Lithuania a row has broken out between the political class and the media. Plans have been announced under which media would have to pay in future for access to the national register, which among other things contains all the data on companies. Until now only companies and private users had to pay. Commentators complain that the move will impede their research, and criticise the plans as an attack on press freedom.
Source: eurotopics.net
15/10/2018

Poland adds 27 Supreme Court justices, defying EU

Poland’s Supreme Court announced Thursday that the court had added 27 new judges in a secret ceremony which took place on Wednesday afternoon. This move comes after Poland lowered the retirement age of its Supreme Court justices from 70 to 65 in September, forcing 27 judges of the 72-judge court into retirement. President Andrezj Duda promptly appointed replacement judges, who were sworn in Wednesday.
Source: jurist.org