European Institutions

EU Takes France to Court over Bird Protection

December 21, 2016

The European Commission has filed a complaint against France in the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to adequately enforce an EU directive prohibiting the killing or capture of certain wild birds.
EU Agency Seeks Rights-Based Revision of Migration Rules

December 21, 2016

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights has issued two opinions requested by the European Parliament on including a human rights-based approach to the process of revising EU regulations on where migrants from non-EU countries should be settled.
ECtHR: Belgian Deportation Decision Was "Inhuman" Treatment

December 20, 2016

The European Court of Human Rights has concluded that Belgian authorities violated the rights of a man, who was convicted of robbery and of participating in a criminal organization, against inhuman or degrading treatment and to respect for private and family life by deciding to deport him to Georgia without considering the effects of the move on his health and family.
ECtHR: Hungarian Pension Reform Violated Rights

December 20, 2016

The European Court of Human Rights has held that Hungarian legislation amending the eligibility of those receiving disability-related social-security benefits had caused a woman who had lost her pension under the law "to bear an excessive individual burden" and thereby had violated her right to protection of property.
EU Leaders Oppose Plan for UK "Associate Citizenship"

December 20, 2016

The Guardian reports that EU leaders and national governments are voicing skepticism regarding a pledge from Belgian Member of the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt to put on the table during Brexit negotiations the possibility of "associate citizenship" in the EU for UK citizens, with some suggesting that the pledge threatens Verhofstadt's credibility.