Law & Justice

Polish Minister Criticizes EU Resettlement Policy

August 23, 2017

In the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Barcelona, Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Błaszczak stated that his government "will not succumb to" European Commission pressure on resettling African and Middle Eastern migrants in Poland, asserting that Europe must “wake up” to the “clash of civilizations” it has encouraged through its migration policy.
UK Plans Continued Recognition of Civil Judgments from EU

August 22, 2017

The Guardian reports that, in a paper released today, the British government expresses its intention to maintain cross-border recognition of civil judgments from EU member states after departing the bloc, meaning that UK citizens and businesses will likely remain subject to rulings of the Court of Justice of the EU when they take part in activities in other European countries.
Official Suggests UK Join EFTA Court

August 21, 2017

Professor Carl Baudenbacher, President of the Court of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - a free trade organization containing EU member states, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein - has called on the UK to consider joining the EFTA Court, which relies broadly in their judgments on case law from EU courts, following its departure from the EU.
UK May Accept Lingering Post-Brexit ECJ Jurisdiction

August 21, 2017

The Daily Telegraph reports that UK officials have expressed the government's willingness to subject Britain to the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) until the end of any post-Brexit transition period, leaving open the possibility that the ECJ may still be resolving British cases as late as the year 2027.
Irish Official Criticizes EU's Apple Tax Demand

August 17, 2017

In a recent interview, Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe criticized the European Commission's demand that Ireland collect €13 billion from tech giant Apple in back taxes and warned that the EU should be focusing on completing its banking union rather than establishing a eurozone budget and finance minister.
ECJ Orders Poland to Stop Logging in Ancient Forest

August 14, 2017

The Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) has issued an interim decision regarding a complaint filed by the European Commission against Poland for violating EU wildlife protection laws by logging in the Białowieża Forest, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ordering Poland to cease logging activities in the forest immediately to prevent "serious and irreversible damage."
US Reportedly Intervenes in EU-Apple Tax Case

August 14, 2017

The Daily Express reports that the US federal government has filed a request with an EU court to intervene in support of technology giant Apple in an EU legal proceeding alleging that Apple's tax rate in Ireland constituted unlawful state aid and demanding that, as a result, the company pay Ireland nearly $15 billion in back taxes.
ECJ Official: France Had Authority to Prosecute Uber Service

August 10, 2017

An Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) has found that France was not required to notify EU officials in advance of adopting a law criminalizing the UberPop service for connecting passengers with drivers who are unlicensed under French law because UberPop is a transportation service subject to regulation at the national level.
UK Plans Departure from EU Arrest Warrant System

August 09, 2017

The Sun reports that the British Government is developing plans to permit UK judges to deny extradition requests from EU member states after Brexit, breaking from the European Arrest Warrant scheme overseen by the Court of Justice of the EU that provides little judicial recourse to arrest warrants from other members.
Observers: EU Should Stay Out of Polish Judicial Controversy

August 09, 2017

Mike Muller and Luke Coffey of the Heritage Foundation argue that the European Commission’s threat to strip Poland of its voting rights in the EU Council over its judicial reforms is unwarranted, as the country’s controversy is an internal debate that should be decided democratically rather than by EU officials.