The Council has decided to impose a ninth package of restrictive measures on an additional 7 individuals responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. The new listings include the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Isfahan province and the Deputy Judge of the Provincial Criminal Court of Isfahan province, who are responsible for the trials […]
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Human rights breaches by Russia, in Sudan and in Hong Kong
On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted three resolutions on the respect for human rights by Russia, in Sudan and in Hong Kong. Torture and criminal prosecution of Ukrainian minors Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov by the Russian Federation Parliament demands that the proceedings against Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov should end and the charges against […]
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Deal on penalties for EU sanctions violation
The Council has settled on its negotiating position (general approach) for an EU law which introduces criminal offences and penalties for the violation of EU sanctions. This directive, when adopted, will be an important tool to ensure that violating sanctions does not pay off. The draft law defines the conduct member states will need to […]
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EU Justice Scoreboard 2023
The European Commission has published the eleventh edition of the EU Justice Scoreboard, an annual overview providing comparative data on the efficiency, quality, and independence of justice systems among the EU Member States. This year’s Scoreboard includes figures on 16 new areas, for example, on how national authorities are dealing with corruption, on the length of proceedings related to bribery […]
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The EU General Court upholds the EUIPO and concludes that the Batman logo is only DC Comics’ logo
For the relevant public, that distinctiveness makes it possible to associate, according to EUIPO, the goods covered by the trade mark with DC Comics and to distinguish them from those of other undertakings. On 1 April 1996, DC Comics, the publisher of Batman, filed an application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for […]
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CJEU declares the December 2019 reform of the Polish judicial system illegal.
Following the adoption, by Poland, on 20 December 2019, of a law amending the national rules relating to the organisation of the ordinary courts, the administrative courts and the Supreme Court (‘the amending law’), the European Commission brought an action for failure to fulfil obligations, asking the Court of Justice to declare that the regime […]
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New unitary patent system launched to make it easier for companies to protect their innovations in Europe
The Commission welcomes the launch of the Unitary Patent system today, which will make it simpler and easier for companies to protect their innovations in Europe and capitalise on their intellectual property. The Unitary Patent system will strengthen the EU’s innovation and competitiveness and complete the Single Market for patents. It will initially cover 17 […]
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European Parliament calls for coordinated strategy to protect 2024 European elections against foreign interference
Parliament calls for a coordinated strategy to increase the EU’s resilience to foreign interference and information manipulation and protect the 2024 European elections . Foreign interference, disinformation, and attacks on democracy are likely to continue in ever-greater numbers and to become more sophisticated in the run-up to the European Parliament elections in June 2024, say […]
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European Commission publishes June infringement proceedings package for Spain
The main decisions adopted by the Commission in relation to infringement proceedings in Spain are presented below. Jobs and social rights Reasoned opinions Employment: The Commission calls on GREECE, SPAIN and LUXEMBOURG to incorporate the Directive on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions into national law The European Commission decided to send a reasoned opinion to […]
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