A key benefit of EU citizenship is the EU’s principle of free movement of workers. EU rules make it easy for you to work in another EU country and protect your social security rights once you’re there. You don’t need to worry about seeking a work permit in any EU country, whether you live in the […]
Degraded ecosystems to be restored across Europe as Nature Restoration Law enters into force
The regulation sets binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems, particularly those with the most potential to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters. Full implementation of the law is crucial to restore the EU’s biodiversity and stop further biodiversity loss, to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and […]
Council adopts first-ever EU law on violence against women
The Council has given the green light to an EU directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence. Taking decisive action against these acts of violence is essential to ensure the values and fundamental rights of equality between women and men and of non-discrimination. The law requires all EU countries to criminalise female genital […]
Council gives green light to new legislation toughening penalties and extending the list of environmental offences
The Council formally adopted a directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law. The law will improve the investigation and prosecution of environmental crime offences. The directive establishes EU-wide minimum rules on the definition of criminal offences and penalties. It replaces the previous law which dates back to 2008. The law will only […]
Anti-SLAPP: Final green light for EU law protecting journalists and human rights defenders
The Council adopted a law to protect persons who speak out on matters of public interest against abusive lawsuits meant to silence them. Persons targeted by so called strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), typically journalists and human rights defenders, will benefit from a number of procedural safeguards and measures. These safeguards and measures will […]
Council and Parliament reach political agreement to criminalise violation of EU sanctions
The Spanish presidency of the Council and the European Parliament concluded their negotiations for an EU law which introduces criminal offences and penalties for the violation of EU sanctions. This directive ensures that those who violate or circumvent EU sanctions will be prosecuted. This gains particular importance in the context of the Russian war of […]
Council and EU Parliament reach provisional agreement on EU law protecting journalists and human rights defenders
The EU has taken an important step towards the protection of journalists and human rights defenders against unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings. The Spanish presidency of the Council and the European Parliament reached a political deal on a directive which would protect these individuals from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). The use of […]
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 […]
The enforcement of EU law is a top priority for the European Commission
EU law has a real impact on the everyday life of Europeans. This is why enforcement of EU law is a top priority for the Commission. The European Commission adopted a Communication on the enforcement of EU law, setting out its work to ensure that EU law is complied with and citizens and businesses can […]