EU Law
Latest business news about EU law, legal issues and the European Court of Justice
EU Court upholds French law over Dali's IP royalties
The European Court of Justice has ruled against Spain in a legal dispute over claims to the IP royalties of Savaldor Dalí's artwork. In its ruling the ECJ upheld French law which entitles members of the painter's family the royalty payments from resale in France.
Belgium's curb on foreign students criticized by EU Court
The European court of Justice has ruled that Belgium should provide evidence that a 2006 Decree, which limits the number of foreign students enrolling in medical schools to 30%, is appropriate and proportionate.
Football clubs eligible for compensation, EU Court rules
The European Court of Justice has ruled that football clubs who have trained and prepared young players may seek compensation if that player wishes to sign their first contract with a different club within the European Union.
Polish phone company loses Court challenge
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.
Price floor on tobacco infringes EU law
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.
Austria's monopolistic approach to gaming is incompatible to EU law
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
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.
Arcelor's action rejected by EU General Court
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.
EU Court clarifies standard for Iraqi refugee status
Iraqi refugees who sought refuge from Sadam Hussein's Baath regime no longer qualify as refugees because of the significant change in circumstances in Iraq, according to a ruling of the European Court of Justice.
Member States have the power to remove citizenship acquired 'by deception'
The European Court of Justice has upheld Member States' power to remove its citizenship from a citizen of the Union, when that person has obtained it by deception.
EU Court clarifies residency terms for the carers of the children of migrant workers
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled, in accordance with Community regulation on the freedom of movement, that the child of a migrant worker is allowed to have an independent right of residence in connection with the right of access to education in the host Member State.
Products originating in the West Bank do not qualify for preferential customs treatment, rules EU Court
The European Court of Justice has ruled that products originating in the occupied territories of the West Bank cannot qualify for preferential customs granted for Israeli goods detailed in the Israel-EC agreement.
Cotton ginning firms' bid for EUR 4.45m compensation dismissed
The General Court has ruled that the actions brought forward by three cotton ginning firms must be dismissed as unfounded, due to the lack of evidence to support their claim that a 2004 CAP support scheme damaged their businesses.
Protected sites can be contested on environmental grounds only
The European Court of Justice has ruled that EU Member States can only refuse to give their agreement to the list of protected sites of Community importance drawn up by the European Commission on environmental grounds, following some ambiguity as to the circumstances surrounding the development of a protected site in Germany.
Enlistment of Community protected sites can only be contested on environmental grounds, EU Court says
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that Member States can only refuse to give their agreement to the list of protected sites of Community importance drawn up by the Commission on environmental grounds, following some ambiguity as to the circumstances surrounding the development of a protected site in Germany.
Germany's age law ruled incompatible with EU Directives
The European Court of Justice has ruled that European Union law, more particularly the principle of non-discrimination on grounds of age as given expression by Directive 2000/78, precludes national legislation. As such, a German law which provides that periods of employment completed by an employee before reaching the age of 25 are not taken into account in calculating the notice period for dismissal, was deemed discriminatory and must be dis-applied by the national courts.
Germany's restriction on Polish labour deemed discriminatory
Germany has infringed Community law by restricting to its own undertakings alone the possibility of entering into contracts with Polish undertakings in respect of work to be carried out within its territory, ruled the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Labelling the restrictions as discriminatory, the ECJ found that they could not be justified by any reasonable means.
EU Court sets guidelines for cross-border insolvency proceedings
Once initial insolvency proceedings have been opened in an EU Member State, the competent authorities of another Member State are, in principle, required to recognize and enforce all judgements relating to the main insolvency proceedings, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled. As such, they are not entitled to order enforcement measures on the insolvent company's assets situated in its territory when the legislation of the State of the opening of proceedings does not so permit.
EU Court outlines unfair practice guidelines for consumer driven lottery
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that allowing customers to take part in a lottery free of charge following a certain number of purchases does not automatically constitute an unfair commercial practice, following a request from the German Federal Court of Justice.
Maximum age limits for some professions is permissible, says Court
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has delegated the application of age limits for the recruitment of certain professionals, such as dentistry and fire fighting, to the authority of the national courts, due to the health responsibility attached to those professions.