EU Law
Latest business news about EU law, legal issues and the European Court of Justice
Brussels looks to strengthen IPR protection
The EU Commission signalled its intention Thursday to crack down on intellectual property rights infringements, which it says cost European firms billions of euros in lost revenue and put jobs at risk.
Airbnb does not need estate agent's licence, rules EU Court
France cannot require Airbnb to hold an estate agent's licence as it did not notify the EU Commission of that requirement in accordance with the EU's e-commerce directive, the EU's top Court ruled on Thursday.
November 2019 infringements package: key decisions
In its November 2019 monthly package of infringement decisions, the European Commission is pursuing legal action against EU Member States for failing to comply with their obligations under EU law.
EU acts against UK for not nominating Commissioner
The European Commission sent a letter of formal notice to the United Kingdom Thursday for breaching its EU Treaty obligations by not suggesting a candidate for the post of EU Commissioner.
Products from Israeli settlements must be labelled as such: EU top Court
Foodstuffs originating in Israel's occupied territories must bear the indication of their territory of origin, the EU's top Court ruled on Tuesday, and be labelled if originating from an Israeli settlement.
Poland's judicial reform broke EU law: EU top Court
Changes to Polish law lowering the retirement age of ordinary court judges, and setting a different retirement age depending on their gender, are contrary to EU law, the EU's top Court ruled on Tuesday.
Report assessing consistency of approaches in the identification of operators of essential services
Under EU Directive 2016/1148 on Security of Network and Information Systems (the "NIS Directive"), identified operators of essential services will have to take appropriate security measures and to notify serious cyber incidents to the relevant national authority. The report published on 28 October 2019 provides an overview of how Member States have identified operators of essential services who have to put in place cyber-security measures and report major cyber-incidents due to their importance for the economy and society.
Rubik's Cube loses its EU trademark
The EU Court confirmed Thursday cancellation of the EU trade mark consisting of the shape of the ‘Rubik’s Cube’, saying the shape was a consequence of a technical solution and could not be registered.
October 2019 infringements package: key decisions
In its October 2019 monthly package of infringement decisions, the European Commission is pursuing legal action against EU Member States for failing to comply with their obligations under EU law.
New EU law to help protect whistleblowers from 2021
The EU formally adopted Monday a new set of rules to guarantee a high level protection to whistleblowers across a wide range of sectors including public procurement, financial services and money laundering.
EU Court forces global deletion of defamatory comment on Facebook
Facebook can be ordered to seek and remove, among shared user content, defamatory content which is identical to content already characterised as illegal, the EU Court of Justice ruled on Thursday.
Internet cookies 'consent or be tracked' is not an option: EU Court
Internet 'cookies' can only be set if users have given consent that is valid under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and a pre-ticked checkbox is insufficient, the EU's top Court ruled on Tuesday.
EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls
Today in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the European Union and the United Nations are hosting a high level event on the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative - inviting all countries, leaders, civil society representatives and local ambassadors to join the movement and take action to end violence against women and girls.
MEPs give green light for first EU Chief Prosecutor
EU Parliament and Council negotiators agreed Wednesday on the appointment of Laura Codruta Kövesi, the MEPs' preferred choice to be the first head of the new EU Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Google 'right to be forgotten' applies only in EU: EU Court
Google's 'right to be forgotten', defined as "the right to silence on past events in life that are no longer occurring", only applies in EU Member States, the EU's top Court ruled on Tuesday.
Suspension of Parliament unlawful, rules UK Supreme Court
The prorogation of Britain's Parliament by prime minister Boris Johnson was unlawful, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in a huge setback for the prime minister and his no-deal Brexit strategy.
No patents on naturally obtained plants and seeds, say MEPs
Fruit, vegetables or animals obtained from conventional breeding processes, such as crossing, must not become patentable, the European Parliament said in a non-legislative resolution on Thursday.
EUR 740m of fake goods stopped at EU borders
Fake and potentially dangerous goods worth nearly EUR 740 million were intercepted at EU customs borders in 2018, according to new figures released Thursday by the European Commission.
German law restricting Google news not admissible: EU Court
A German provision stopping Google search from using newspaper snippets without publisher authorisation must be disregarded as it was not notified to the Commission, the EU Court ruled Thursday.
Eurojust launches new Counter-Terrorism Register
A new Counter-Terrorism Register, launched Thursday by Eurojust, the EU's agency on judicial cooperation, will help EU countries exchange information on terrorist offences in a quick, efficient and uniform manner.