The European Commission has decided to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose the revised EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) Directive [Directive (EU) 2023/959] into national law. The Commission has also decided to refer Spain and Poland to the Court for failing to transpose the revised […]
Stricter anti-corruption rules come into force
On 31 May, more harmonised anti-corruption rules came into force across the EU under the new Anti-Corruption Directive. The Directive introduces modern rules to better prevent, detect and punish corruption throughout the EU, thereby helping to safeguard democratic institutions, the rule of law and public trust, whilst promoting competitiveness across the European Union. The new […]
The EU signs a protocol amending the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism and strengthens global efforts to combat terrorism
On 26 May, the European Union signed the Protocol amending the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism, marking a historic step towards a common pan-European definition of terrorist offences. The Protocol amends the definition of ‘terrorist offences’ in the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism. It introduces a […]
The Commission has published guidance to strengthen resilience by clarifying the application of European water legislation
The European Commission has published guidance to ensurea simpler and more harmonised application of European water legislation,thereby reducing uncertainties regarding compliance.Its aim is to support Europe’s overall resilience agenda, which includes water resilience. This guidance forms part of the Commission’s efforts to support Europe’s overall resilience by maintaining high standards for our waters, in order […]
The Commission has registered two European citizens’ initiatives on the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems
The European Commission has registered two European Citizens’ Initiatives (ECI) entitled ‘Rights for Nature: Empowering citizens to represent and protectecosystems’ and‘Reconnecting nature by creating European biodiversity corridors’. The initiative “Rights for Nature: Empowering Citizens to Represent and Protect Ecosystems”calls on the Commission to “recognise the rights of nature in European law through a legal act, […]
Commission decides to refer Spain to the CJEU for failing to transpose EU rules into national law
On 11 March, the European Commission decided to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose two Directives on VAT measures into national law. Council Directive (EU) 2020/285 introduced substantial changes to the VAT rules applicable to small businesses (SMEs). Its aim is to create a modern and […]
Commission welcomes the judgment of the Court largely confirming the validity of the Directive on adequate minimum wages
The Commission welcomes today’s judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union largely confirming that the Directive on adequate minimum wages stands on firm legal ground. Adequate minimum wages are essential for social fairness and a productive and inclusive economy. They help to protect workers’ purchasing power, reduce wage inequality and in-work poverty, support domestic demand and strengthen incentives to work. […]
Spain transposes an EU directive that applies a tax on multinationals and another that strengthens consumer protection.
At the last plenary session of the Congress of Deputies, the Organic Law on Measures for the Efficiency of the Public Justice Service and theLaw establishing a Supplementary Tax to guarantee an overall minimum level of taxation for multinational groups and large national groups, a Tax on the interest and commission margins of certain financial […]
Council improves the protection of industrial designs
The Council adopts the two legislative acts in the framework of the design package: The texts adopted update the existing design legislation in order to improve the protection of industrial designs in the era of digital designs and 3D printing. Better protection for designs and models The directive and regulation adopted will make the procedure […]