EU Law

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

Human Rights Watch calls for EU action on Hungary — 16 May 2013, 17:13 CET

Human Rights Watch urged the European Union Thursday to put more pressure on Hungary including a possible suspension of voting rights to bring the country into line with EU law.

Romania names new anti-corruption prosecutor — 16 May 2013, 00:26 CET

Romania, whose justice system is closely monitored by the European Union, Wednesday announced the appointment of a new anti-corruption prosecutor after months of controversy over the key post.

Ex-Kosovo officials probed for organ trafficking: report — 07 May 2013, 16:00 CET

A former Kosovo health minister and another Pristina official are among eight suspects in a new EU probe into a human organ trafficking case, a local daily reported on Tuesday.

European Court of Human Rights — 30 April 2013, 13:42 CET

Based in Luxembourg, the European Court of Human Rights ensures compliance with EU law and rules on the interpretation and application of the treaties establishing the European Union. The European Convention on Human Rights is an international treaty under which the member States of the Council of Europe promise to secure fundamental civil and political rights, not only to their own citizens but also to everyone within their jurisdiction. The Convention, which was signed on 4 November 1950 in Rome, entered into force in 1953. The Convention secures in particular: the right to life, the right to a fair hearing, the right to respect for private and family life, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the protection of property. The Convention prohibits in particular: torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, slavery and forced labour, death penalty, arbitrary and unlawful detention, and discrimination in the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set out in the Convention.

Tymoshenko's daughter hails EU court ruling as 'first victory' — 30 April 2013, 13:49 CET

Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko's daughter Yevgenia hailed Tuesday the European Court of Human Rights' ruling that her mother's detention was unlawful as the "first victory" on the way to her release.

Europe court rules Tymoshenko jailing 'unlawful' — 30 April 2013, 17:49 CET

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Ukraine's detention of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko was unlawful, in a decision the opposition leader's camp saw as a key step towards her release.

Five doctors jailed for Kosovo organ trafficking — 29 April 2013, 20:11 CET

An EU-led court in Kosovo on Monday jailed five doctors for organ trafficking at a Pristina clinic in the first such case in the breakaway territory which has already faced allegations of similar crimes during and after its 1998-99 war.

EU court to rule in Kosovo organ trafficking trial — 28 April 2013, 20:44 CET

An EU-led court in Kosovo is expected to deliver its verdict Monday in the trial of seven people accused of illegal organ harvesting and transplants at a Pristina clinic.

EU court maintains seal fur ban — 25 April 2013, 22:21 CET

An EU court in a much-anticipated ruling has upheld a 2010 ban on seal products, throwing out an appeal by fur traders including native Inuit from Canada and Greenland, and Scottish sporran-makers.

France ordered to pay damages to 'degraded' prisoner — 25 April 2013, 17:02 CET

The European Court of Human Rights on Thursday ordered France to pay 10,000 euros in damages to a prisoner it said suffered "degrading and inhumane treatment" in a jail which has since closed.

EU court raps Romania soccer club for anti-gay comments — 25 April 2013, 15:47 CET

The European Court of Justice has rapped Romanian football club Steaua Bucarest over homophobic comments made by its patron George "Gigi" Becali, a controversial politician and millionaire businessman.

Euro-MPs reject mining of air passenger data — 25 April 2013, 12:39 CET

Euro-MPs in committee on Wednesday rejected plans to allow European air passenger data to be used to fight against organised crime and terrorism.

Kosovo ex-rebel now MP goes on retrial for war crimes — 18 April 2013, 21:48 CET

A top ethnic Albanian guerrilla commander turned-politician and his nine associates on Thursday went on retrial for war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war.

EU envoy says Tymoshenko release key 'objective' awaiting bloc deal — 18 April 2013, 17:32 CET

The release of jailed former premier Yulia Tymoshenko is a key objective of European Union policy as it reviews ties with Ukraine and the possible signing of an association and trade accord, top officials said after an in-depth trip to Kiev.

EUR 1m stolen gold egg recovered near French-Swiss border — 15 April 2013, 22:09 CET

A bejewelled golden egg stolen four years ago in Geneva and worth an estimated one million euros ($1.3 million) has been recovered by French police near the Swiss border, police said Monday.

EU chides Turkey over tweeting pianist blasphemy conviction — 15 April 2013, 15:46 CET

The European Union chided Turkey after leading pianist Fazil Say was handed a suspended jail term on Monday for tweets critics said were an insult to Islam and Muslims.

Romania PM names new justice minister — 11 April 2013, 16:30 CET

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Thursday appointed a former prosecutor as justice minister, a key area monitored by the European Commission.

Ex-Kosovo minister pleads not guilty to corruption charges — 10 April 2013, 21:22 CET

Kosovo's former transport minister on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to charges of involvement in organised crime and corruption that cost the state budget of two million euros.

EU deal to tackle mining corruption — 14 April 2013, 23:06 CET

EU legislators struck an anti-corruption deal Tuesday that aims to force big mining companies to make public the payments they make to governments where they operate.

Kosovo ex-minister goes on trial on corruption charges — 08 April 2013, 20:40 CET

Former Kosovo transport minister and six other defendants went on trial Monday on charges of involvement in organised crime and corruption that cost the state budget of two million euros ($2.6 mn).

EU hails Ukraine pardon for Tymoshenko ally — 07 April 2013, 15:57 CET

The European Union on Sunday welcomed Ukraine's pardon of a close ally of jailed former premier Yulia Tymoshenko, former interior minister Yuriy Lutsenko, calling it "an important step".

Ukraine leader pardons Tymoshenko ally under EU pressure — 07 April 2013, 13:34 CET

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has pardoned a close ally of jailed former premier Yulia Tymoshenko, amid tensions with the opposition and pressure from the European Union.

Defendant admits illegal organ harvesting in Kosovo hospital — 05 April 2013, 22:55 CET

A former top Kosovo health ministry official on trial for organ trafficking on Friday admitted that illegal kidney transplants were carried out at a Pristina clinic, but denied covering them up.

Romanian anti-graft figure quits — 05 April 2013, 15:49 CET

A key figure in Romania's anti-graft fight praised by Brussels for his work, Daniel Morar, on Friday quit his job at the prosecutor general's office after political leaders suggested his presence was a "problem".

Italian priest arrested for EUR 4 m fraud — 04 April 2013, 17:41 CET

Italian police on Thursday arrested a priest accused of defrauding a Vatican-linked hospital in Rome that he managed of four million euros, part of which he used to buy an 18-room villa in Tuscany set on 23 hectares of land.