EU Law

Latest business news about EU law, legal issues and the European Court of Justice

Young Romanian magistrates hopeful of change — 22 March 2010, 12:45 CET

They are the new judges and lawyers of Romania, a country plagued by graft and under EU surveillance because of slow justice reforms.

Commission approves acquisition of Edscha by Gestamp Automoción — 19 March 2010, 23:32 CET

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the hinge and control systems unit of Edscha AG of Germany by Gestamp Automoción S.L. of Spain.

Euro-MPs vote to tighten security of gas supplies — 19 March 2010, 23:46 CET

The European Parliament's Industry Committee has proposed a strenthening of gas crisis prevention measures, laying down new requirements for plans to offset any serious disruptions to gas supplies from third countries.

EC facilitates use of mobile phones on ships — 19 March 2010, 23:37 CET

The European Commission has adopted new rules to make it easier for passengers and crews on ships to use their mobile phones whilst in European waters.

Commission requests exit tax changes — 18 March 2010, 22:33 CET

The European Commission has formally requested Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands to change tax rules which impose an immediate exit tax when companies transfer their seat or assets to another EU Member State.

EC acts against 12 Member States on implementation of EU rules — 18 March 2010, 22:35 CET

The European Commission has taken action against a total of 12 Member States on implementing EU Internal Market rules in the areas of acquisitions in the financial sector, pension funds, shareholders’ rights, and anti-money laundering.

No tax breaks on porn booths: EU court — 18 March 2010, 15:15 CET

Individual booths used to watch porn videos cannot be classified as cinemas and therefore are not eligible for VAT cuts, the European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday.

WTO's Boeing-Airbus ruling 'set for broad impact' — 18 March 2010, 16:34 CET

A forthcoming WTO ruling on a US complaint against EU subsidies to Airbus is likely to have a broader impact on aerospace markets, a lawyer acting for Airbus' US rival Boeing predicts.

Euro-MPs opt for clearer food labelling rules — 17 March 2010, 13:21 CET

The European Parliament's Environment Committee on Tuesday approved draft legislation on clearer and more informative new food labelling rules which require new information on energy content and nutritional value.

EU green light for Slovenian short-term export-credit insurance scheme — 18 March 2010, 23:09 CET

The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, a measure adopted by Slovenia to limit the adverse impact of the current financial crisis on export firms.

EU to cooperate on fighting tax evasion — 17 March 2010, 00:39 CET

At a meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council today, finance ministers adopted a draft EU directive on strenghtening mutual assistance between Member States in the recovery of taxes.

Polish phone company loses Court challenge — 16 March 2010, 10:33 CET

The European Court of Justice has ruled against Poland's largest phone company, Telekomunikacja Polska SA, in a challenge to Polish national legislation that blocks service providers from binding customers to combined sales contracts.

MEPs back fresh EU money for low-carbon technologies — 11 March 2010, 23:52 CET

Euro-MPs have approved fresh EU funding for the development of innovative low-carbon technologies to help cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020.

EU energy rules still not being implemented: report — 11 March 2010, 22:57 CET

EU Member States are lagging behind in the implementation of the internal energy market rules, reveals the Commission’s 2009 Benchmarking Report published today.

In-depth examination of insurance against natural catastrophes, announces Barnier — 11 March 2010, 16:29 CET

The Commission is to carry out an in-depth examination of insurance schemes covering national catastrophes, in particular flooding, announced Michel Barnier, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, yesterday, 9 March, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Parliament wants to reduce red tape for small firms — 11 March 2010, 16:35 CET

Very small companies could be exempted from having to draw up annual accounts, following approval by the European Parliament of changes to EU accounting rules. Voting in the 10 March plenary, MEPs said it would be up to each Member State to grant such exemptions, depending on the impact the directive would have in that country. Companies would in any case still have to keep records of their business transactions and financial situation.

EU probe into transatlantic airline alliance nears end — 15 March 2010, 18:50 CET

European competition enforcers on Wednesday indicated that a probe into a transatlantic tie-up between British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia may be about to close.

"Internal market test" needed for new EU legislation, say MEPs — 10 March 2010, 18:21 CET

The EU's internal market was put under scrutiny today, 9 March, when Members of the European Parliament debated a series of reports in their plenary session in Strasbourg. They concluded that there is no conflict between consumer rights and an economically efficient single market: they reinforce each other. This is the key message of three resolutions approved by Parliament that look at EU law on consumer protection, the internal market and the SOLVIT system for settling consumer disputes.

Factories near pollution may be held responsible: EU court — 09 March 2010, 18:53 CET

Factories located close to polluted areas may be deemed responsible and made to carry out remedial measures, the European Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday.

Price floor on tobacco infringes EU law — 11 March 2010, 23:21 CET

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that the national legislation in certain EU Member States that allows the fixing of a price floor for tobacco products is contrary to the Directives of free competition.

Court backs EU anti-dumping duties on Chinese shoes — 04 March 2010, 18:01 CET

Europe's General Court ruled on Thursday that a decision to impose anti-dumping measures on shoes from China and Vietnam was sound.

Austria's monopolistic approach to gaming is incompatible to EU law — 10 March 2010, 00:49 CET

An EU Member State which reserves the operation of casinos exclusively to companies which have their seat in its territory is acting in a way which is incompatible with European Union Law, according to an Opinion of the European Court of Justice.

EU Court upholds Commission decision on State aid for banks — 10 March 2010, 00:48 CET

The EU General Court has upheld the Commission's decision which stated that the two investment funds that Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen received in1998 from the state were made available to underpin its competitive business, and hence could not be classified as State aid.

Italy slammed by EU court over Naples garbage — 04 March 2010, 13:14 CET

Europe's highest court has slammed Italy for its failure to clean-up a garbage crisis in the Naples region that was declared over by PM Silvio Berlusconi over 18 months ago.

Arcelor's action rejected by EU General Court — 10 March 2010, 00:47 CET

The EU's General Court on March 1 2010 dismissed an action filed by the world's largest steel maker Arcelor Mittal as inadmissible and unfounded.