European Institutions

ECtHR Dismisses Challenges to Turkish Military Campaign

February 12, 2019

Voice of America reports that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has dismissed cases brought on behalf of civilians killed in a broad Turkish security operation targeting separatists from the Kurdish PKK organization, finding the claimants had failed to exhaust their domestic remedies in what critics say is a failed judicial system.
UK’s May Rejects Permanent Customs Union with EU

February 11, 2019

Reuters reports that UK Prime Minister Theresa May has rejected a push by the head of the British Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn to embrace a permanent customs union with the EU after Brexit, indicating her government’s preference for reclaiming an independent trade policy when it withdraws from the EU.
UK, Switzerland Agree Post-Brexit Trade Terms

February 11, 2019

Sky News reports that the UK and Switzerland have signed a trade continuity agreement to maintain trade relations between the two countries following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU in what is the fourth instance of Britain agreeing to continue favorable trade terms with countries after Brexit.
ECtHR: Public Statements Violated Former Official’s Trial Rights

February 11, 2019

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has held that the Bulgarian prosecutor’s office and a Bulgarian lawmaker had violated the right of a former official to presumption of innocence by indicating the former official was guilty of embezzling public funds prior to her criminal proceedings.
ECtHR: Belgium Violated Prisoner’s Right to Psychological Treatment

February 11, 2019

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has held that Belgian authorities violated the rights of a man to liberty and against inhuman or degrading treatment by failing to effectively treat his mental-health problems using doctors who spoke his native language of German.