EU Law

Latest business news about EU law, legal issues and the European Court of Justice

German court ruling on Lisbon pact not a solution: Klaus — 02 July 2009, 17:11 CET

A decision by Germany's top court to make ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty conditional on a new law does not correct the pact's faults, eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus said on Thursday.

EU's Barroso confident of treaty ratification after court ruling — 30 June 2009, 13:26 CET

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso expressed confidence Tuesday that the EU's reform treaty would be ratified across the bloc by autumn, following a court ruling in Germany.

Top German court suspends ratification of EU's Lisbon Treaty — 30 June 2009, 23:57 CET

Germany's top court on Tuesday delayed the ratification of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty but leaders expressed confidence that the landmark reforms would still be adopted soon.

EU holds breath as German court rules on Lisbon Treaty — 28 June 2009, 13:31 CET

Germany's top court will on Tuesday decide whether the European Union's proposed Lisbon Treaty breaches the country's constitution and could potentially halt the landmark reform in its tracks.

EU threatens Italy with legal action over waste sites — 25 June 2009, 18:10 CET

The European Commission issued Italy Thursday a final warning to close and clean up thousands of illegal waste disposal sites or face possible fines.

EU takes Luxembourg to court in tax haven dispute — 25 June 2009, 17:15 CET

The European Commission announced on Thursday that it is taking Luxembourg to court over its alleged use of "non-domiciled resident" status for tax avoidance.

Serb journalists win Euro rights ruling in insult case — 23 June 2009, 23:43 CET

Two Serbian journalists convicted of insult and defamation won a judges' ruling Tuesday at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

EU court annuls freeze on Abu Qatada's assets — 12 June 2009, 10:31 CET

The European Court of First Instance has annulled an asset freeze on Abu Qatada, the radical Muslim cleric detained in Britain described as Osama bin Laden's right-had man in Europe.

Court scraps Euro-Parliament's chauffeured cars contract — 21 May 2009, 00:49 CET

The European Court of First Instance on Wednesday annulled the European parliament's chauffeured cars contract, ruling that it broke rules on tendering.

EU ruling may keep non- pharmacists out of pharmacies — 20 May 2009, 17:33 CET

The European Court of Justice has ruled that EU Member States can restrict the ownership and operation of pharmacies to qualified pharmacists, dealing a blow to pharmacy chains.

EU court reduces 2002 Brussels fine against Nintendo — 30 April 2009, 14:40 CET

A European court on Thursday reduced a fine imposed by the EU executive commission on Japanese video game giant Nintendo and distributors in 2002 for anti-competitive practices.

EU Court backs return of northern Cyprus property — 29 April 2009, 12:24 CET

The European Court of Justice has backed the right of Greek Cypriots to reclaim property they abandoned in the north of the island when it was divided, and which was then sold to foreigners.

EU court backs Dior's 'aura of luxury' in trademark row — 23 April 2009, 12:31 CET

Placing luxury goods such as Christian Dior products in discount stores can affect their quality, a European court ruled Thursday, backing the French fashion house in a copyright case.

Euro-MPs call for 20 weeks' minimum maternity leave — 20 April 2009, 13:09 CET

The European Parliament committee on women's rights has called for a minimum 20 weeks of maternity leave, including six weeks fully paid, to be introduced EU-wide.

Somali 'pirate' suing Germany — 14 April 2009, 22:52 CET

A Somali suspected pirate filed a lawsuit against Germany Tuesday for what he called his inhumane treatment since being handed over to Kenyan authorities, court documents said.

EU takes legal action against Britain over Internet privacy — 14 April 2009, 19:30 CET

The European Commission said on Tuesday it was launching legal action against Britain over concerns about the British government's failure to protect Internet users' privacy.

EU court rules Anheuser-Busch cannot register Budweiser — 25 March 2009, 23:09 CET

A top EU court has ruled that US brewer Anheuser-Busch cannot register an EU-wide trademark for its Budweiser brand because of a Czech brewer's previous claims in Austria and Germany.

Forced retirement due to age can be justified: EU court — 05 March 2009, 13:35 CET

The European Court of Justice ruled Thursday that forced retirement due to age can be justified as part of broader social policy aims. The case argued that the law allowing an employer to dismiss someone just because they reached the age of 65 was discriminatory.

EU court eases passage for people fleeing conflict zones — 17 February 2009, 15:15 CET

Europe's top court has ruled that people from conflict zones seeking shelter in the EU are not obliged to prove that they could be personally targeted for their applications to be accepted.

EU court annuls Belgian cash injection into La Poste — 10 February 2009, 13:27 CET

Europe's top court annulled on Tuesday an EU green light given to Belgium to pay almost 300 million euros to the national postal service La Poste.

Britain should change 'discriminatory' inheritance tax law: EU — 29 January 2009, 14:15 CET

The European Commission on Thursday threatened Britain with court action if it does not change its "discriminatory" inheritance tax rules.

Denmark calls on EU to strike Iranian group from terror list — 07 January 2009, 17:38 CET

Denmark called Wednesday on the European Union to remove an Iranian opposition group from its list of terrorist organisations following a European Court of Justice ruling in its favour.

EU court backs Ryanair over Brussels in Belgian airport row — 17 December 2008, 14:57 CET

A European court has ruled in favour of Ryanair in a state aid row with the Commission over concessions granted to the Irish airline by a Brussels airport.

EU was wrong to freeze Iran group's funds: court — 05 December 2008, 14:12 CET

A top European court rules that the EU wrongly froze the funds of Iran's main opposition group in exile and violated its rights by not justifying why it was on a terror list.

Finland slammed by Euro rights court on two counts — 02 December 2008, 23:37 CET

Finland violated the right to respect for private life by failing to balance Internet privacy needs with child protection laws, the European Court of Human Rights said on Tuesday.