EU Law
Latest business news about EU law, legal issues and the European Court of Justice
EU Directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law
The Directive on the protection of the environment through criminal law regulates the protection of the environment through criminal law and significantly contributes to the more effective implementation of environmental protection policy at EU level.
Lobbyists activities - EP Legislative Observatory texts
Development of the framework for the activities of interest representatives (lobbyists) in the European institutions - European Parliament Legislative Observatory - COM(2007)0127 - A6-0105/2008
Mediation in civil and commercial matters - guide
The European Parliament and the EU's Council on 23 April 2008 gave the go-ahead for an EU law to encourage mediation for cross-border legal disputes. The directive promotes the use of mediation as a faster and cheaper alternative to going to court in civil and commercial cross-border disputes.
Mediation in civil and commercial matters - summary
The European Parliament and the EU Council on 23 April 2008 gave the go-ahead for an EU law to encourage mediation for cross-border legal disputes. The proposed directive is aimed at promoting the use of mediation as a faster and cheaper alternative to going to court in civil and commercial cross-border disputes.
Antitrust: EC policy paper on compensating consumer and business victims of competition breaches - guide
The European Commission on 3 April 2008 published a White Paper suggesting a new model for achieving compensation for consumers and businesses who are the victims of antitrust violations (breaches of EC Treaty rules on restrictive business practices and abuse of dominant market positions). At present, there are serious obstacles in most EU Member States that discourage consumers and businesses from claiming compensation in court in private antitrust damages actions. The White Paper includes suggestions to make damages claims by victims more efficient, whilst ensuring respect for European legal systems and traditions. The model outlined by the Commission is based on compensation through single damages for the harm suffered. The White Paper's other key recommendations cover collective redress, disclosure of evidence and the effect of final decisions of competition authorities in subsequent damages actions. The recommendations balance rights and obligations of both the claimant and the defendant and include safeguards against abuses of litigation. Interested parties are invited to comment on the recommendations until 15 July 2008. The Commission will then reflect on concrete measures in the light of responses to the White Paper.
European Police College - CEPOL
CEPOL brings together senior police officers across Europe with the aim to encourage cross-border cooperation in the fight against crime, public security and law and order. Established as an agency of the European Union (EU) in 2005 (Council Decision 2005/681/JHA of 20 September 2005), the CEPOL Secretariat is based at Bramshill in the United Kingdom.
European Arrest Warrant
The European Union has adopted a Framework Decision on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States. The decision simplifies and speeds up the procedure, given that the whole political and administrative phase is replaced by a judicial mechanism
EU terminology translator
A one-stop shop for EU-related terminology (InterActiveTerminology for Europe) in 23 languages opened to the public on 28 June 2007. The InterActive Terminology for Europe database, known as IATE, combines the terminology databases of the individual EU institutions and bodies in a single database containing 8.7 million terms and covering all 23 official EU languages. IATE ,which has been in use by the translation services of the EU institutions since 2005, already plays a major role in ensuring the quality of the written communication of the EU institutions and bodies. Offering easy access to validated EU-related terminology, it ensures the consistency and reliability of terminology which is indispensable for producing the clear and unambiguous texts necessary for guaranteeing both the validity and transparency of the legislative process and effective communication with the citizens of the Union.
European Judicial Training Network
The website of the European Judicial Training Network aims to provide its visitors, and more particularly, European judges and prosecutors, with information on the activities of the Network, as well as its members, which are the institutions in charge of the judicial training in each EU Member State.
EU Transparency Initiative
The purpose of this corner is to give a small overview on the Transparency Initiative – an idea, which among other goals aims to increase openness and accessibility of EU institutions, raise awareness over the use of the EU budget and make the Union's institutions more accountable to the public. The site will be constantly updated as the debate progresses, providing you with fresh information on the outcomes of the debates and future plans.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights - briefing
Opened on 1 March 2007, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is a body of the European Union (EU) based in Vienna.
Internal Market Scoreboard
The Internal Market Scoreboard examines how quickly and how well each of the EU Member States writes Single Market directives into national law. It also highlights the number of infringements proceedings that are underway against Member States.
Decision-making in the European Union
Decision-making in the European Union involves a number of institutions, in particular the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.
European Court of Justice
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) interprets EU law and its rulings are binding. The Court comprises 15 judges assisted by 9 advocates-general. It is assisted by a Court of First Instance, which has jurisdiction to hear cases in limited areas.
Financial crime in the EU
The creation of the Single Market and the breaking down of barriers not only aids legitimate business, but may also provide increased opportunities for money laundering and financial crime. European legislation has been adopted to protect the financial system and other vulnerable professions and activities from being misused for money laundering and financing of terrorism purposes. At the wider international level, the Internal Market Directorate General heads the European Commission's delegation to the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, the foremost world body active in this area.
EUROPOL - the European Police Office
Europol is the European Union’s law enforcement agency whose main goal is to help achieve a safer Europe for the benefit of all EU citizens. We do this by assisting the European Union’s Member States in their fight against serious international crime and terrorism. Large–scale criminal and terrorist networks pose a significant threat to the internal security of the EU and to the safety and livelihood of its people. The biggest security threats come from terrorism, international drug trafficking and money laundering, organised fraud, counterfeiting of the euro currency, and people smuggling. But new dangers are also accumulating, in the form of cybercrime, trafficking in human beings, and other modern-day threats. This is a multi–billion euro business, quick to adapt to new opportunities and resilient in the face of traditional law enforcement measures.
SCADPlus - Database of EU legislative summaries
Summaries of EU legislation. Clear, concise summaries of EU legislation categorised by policy area.
Official Journal of the European Union
Online editions of the Official Journal of the European Union in pdf format
Monthly summary of European Council Acts
This website makes it possible to track the EU Council's activity through monthly summaries prepared by the General Secretariat of the Council of acts adopted by the Council since January 1999. The the General Secretariat publishes a monthly document listing legislative and non-legislative acts of the Council, including the results of votes, explanations of voting and statements for the minutes when the Council is acting in its capacity as legislator.
International Criminal Court
The European Union fully supports the International Criminal Court (ICC). The principles of the Rome Statute of the ICC, as well as those governing its functioning, are fully in line with the principles and objectives of the Union. The consolidation of the rule of law and respect for human rights, as well as the preservation of peace and the strengthening of international security, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and as provided for in Article 11 of the EU Treaty, are of fundamental importance to, and a priority for, the Union.