European Institutions

ECtHR: Russia Failed to Review Electoral Irregularities

August 02, 2017

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has held that the Russian authorities failed to seriously review the alleged manipulation of city and state election results in St. Petersburg in 2011, finding that the voiding of over 50,000 votes and discrepancies between voting counts justified an investigation to satisfy the complainants' right to free elections.
ECtHR: Spain Violated Privacy Rights in Child Pornography Investigation

August 02, 2017

In a May judgment, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held that Spanish law enforcement authorities had violated a man's privacy rights by searching his computer, which was given to them by a computer technician who had discovered child pornography among its files, prior to obtaining authorization from a judge.
Complainants Drop Legal Case on Brexit "Escape Clause"

August 02, 2017

Bloomberg reports that a group of lawyers and politicians has dropped a lawsuit they filed in Ireland whose ultimate goal was a declaration by the Court of Justice of the EU that the UK could revoke its decision to trigger its departure from the bloc.
Romanian Official Criticizes Plans for "Multi-speed" EU

August 02, 2017

In an interview with Reuters, Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu opposed the creation of a "multi-speed EU" in which Western European countries could transfer their sovereignty to supranational institutions at a quicker rate than other EU members and said there is no need for new mechanisms to monitor the rule of law situation in Poland and Hungary.
German Official: EU Must Retain "Major Part" of Euro Clearing

August 02, 2017

City A.M. reports that German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has called for the EU to retain the "major part" of the clearing of euro-denominated currency, much of which is currently located in London, within its territory after Brexit.