Category Archives: Law

Law Press Releases & News distributed via EuropaWire

Autonomy, an HP Company, Delivers Legal and Compliance Performance Suite

FRANKFURT, Germany, 19-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Autonomy, an HP Company, today announced the availability of the Autonomy Legal & Compliance Performance Suite, a comprehensive offering designed to help chief compliance officers, chief legal officers and general counsel overcome the challenges associated … Read the full press release

Deloitte comments on HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) writing to Swiss investors

19-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Tom Rowbotham, Deloitte tax partner said: “The ground-breaking agreement between the UK and the Swiss Confederation, which is about to come into force, has a clear timetable which Swiss banks need to comply with. Banks in Switzerland are notifying … Read the full press release

CEP President announces Willem van der Brugge as new Secretary General

19-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — CEP President announces Willem van der Brugge as new Secretary General Dear Colleagues, I have the pleasure of announcing that Willem van der Brugge has been appointed to be the new Secretary General of CEP from 1 April … Read the full press release

Mid-tier law firms consolidate as Top 100 see revenue growth slow for fourth consecutive quarter

19-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The UK’s top 100 law firms achieved fee income growth of 3.4% in the quarter ended 31 October 2012, compared with the same period last year, according to the latest Quarterly Legal Sector Survey from business advisory … Read the full press release

Marc Cerón meets Giovanni Tamburino in Rome

19-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — CEP President Marc Cerón met with Giovanni Tamburino, head of the Department of the Penitentiary Administration in Italy. Mr. Cerón was warmly received during his stay in Rome for the 17th CDAP Conference that took place 22-24 November, … Read the full press release

Fee reduction extended for .eu dispute proceedings

Brussels and Prague, 19-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The fee for a basic .eu Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) procedure will continue to be cut by 50% until the end of 2013, announced the .eu registry EURid and the Czech Arbitration Court (CAC), … Read the full press release

EU-Armenia agreement on facilitating the issuing of visas

Brussels, 18-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The EU and Armenia signed on 17 December 2012 a visa facilitation agreement (16913/12) at a ceremony that took place in Brussels. On behalf of the EU, the agreement was signed by Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Minister of Foreign … Read the full press release

Fighting tax evasion: stronger EU rules enter into force on 1st January

Brussels, 18-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — New EU rules which will improve Member States’ ability to assess and collect the taxes that they are due will enter into force on 1 January 2013. The Directive on Administrative Cooperation in the field of taxation … Read the full press release

Environment: New rules on cleaner fuels for shipping will deliver benefits for people’s health

Brussels, 18-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — New environmental rules on marine fuels, entering into force today, will substantially reduce air pollution and its impacts on human health. Air pollutants from maritime shipping are transported over long distances and as a result contribute increasingly … Read the full press release

New VAT rules to make life easier for businesses from 1st January 2013

Brussels, 17-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — From 1st January 2013, new EU VAT rules enter into effect, which will make life much simpler for businesses across Europe. First, electronic invoicing will have to be treated the same as paper invoicing, enabling companies to … Read the full press release

Commission proposes a new framework for marine equipment

Brussels, 17-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has proposed a revision of the Directive on marine equipment, a sector fundamental for ship safety and in which the EU has been a world leader. With the newly proposed regime, the Commission aims … Read the full press release

State aid: Commission temporarily approves rescue aid for Italian bank Monte dei Paschi

Brussels, 17-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has temporarily approved, under EU State aid rules, a €3.9 billion recapitalisation of Italy’s third largest bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A (“MPS”) for reasons of financial stability. The measure will enable the … Read the full press release

Unitary patent protection: a big leap towards innovation for EU companies

Brussels, 17-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The Council today¹ adopted two regulations with a view to implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection (PE-COS 72/11) and its translation arrangements (18855/2/11 REV 2). The lack of a unitary patent … Read the full press release

EU and Singapore agree on landmark trade deal

Brussels, 17-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang, today completed final negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and Singapore. The agreement reached today is … Read the full press release

No change to telecoms and internet governance – EU Member States amongst dozens not signing proposed new International Telecommunications Regulations (ITR) Treaty, remain 100% committed to open internet

Brussels, 17-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Delegates from the 193 member countries of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have concluded the “World Conference on International Telecommunications” (WCIT) conference in Dubai. Negotiations to review the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs) failed to reach consensus agreement. … Read the full press release

European Medicines Agency recommends approval of medicine for reduction of alcohol consumption

Selincro offers treatment in conjunction with psychosocial support 14-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the granting of a marketing authorisation for Selincro, a medicinal product intended for the reduction … Read the full press release

Taxation: Clarifying EU rules on car taxes

Brussels, 14-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Today the Commission presented a Communication clarifying EU rules on car taxation and recommending measures to strengthen the Single Market in this area. The aim is to minimize the problems encountered by citizens and businesses moving cars … Read the full press release

Antitrust: Commission accepts legally binding commitments from Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, Hachette, Holtzbrinck and Apple for sale of e-books

Brussels, 14-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — What were the Commission’s concerns? In December 2011, the Commission opened proceedings against Apple and five international publishers: Simon & Schuster (CBS Corp.), Harper Collins (News Corp.) both headquartered in the US, Hachette Livre (Lagardère Publishing) … Read the full press release

Antitrust: Commission welcomes General Court judgments on appeals in calcium carbide cartel

Brussels, 14-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission welcomes today’s judgments by the EU General Court (GC) upholding the fines imposed in 2009 on Novácke chemické závody (NCHZ) (T-352/09), Ecka Granulate (T-400/09) and Almamet (T-410/09) for participating in a cartel in the sector of calcium carbide and … Read the full press release

Investigation against Telenor Norge AS and Telenor ASA by the Competition Authorities

13-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) and the Norwegian Competition Authority have today initiated an investigation against Telenor Norge AS and Telenor ASA regarding possible abuse of dominant market position and/or possible anti-competitive practices. The investigation is carried … Read the full press release

ECB President Mario Draghi welcomes the agreement on the SSM

13-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), welcomes the agreement on the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) reached by the ECOFIN in unanimity. The agreement marks an important step towards a stable economic and monetary union, … Read the full press release

Statement on commitments from Apple and four publishing groups for sale of e-books

Statement at Midday Briefing / Berlaymont press room / Brussels Brussels 13-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has just accepted the commitments offered by Apple and four top international publishing groups in relation to suspected infringements on the market for ebooks … Read the full press release

Ban exports of information technology to repressive regimes

13-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Parliament calls for bans on EU exports of information technology that can be used by repressive regimes to censor information, conduct mass surveillance and track people’s movements in two separate resolutions voted on Tuesday and Thursday. In … Read the full press release

Council agrees position on bank supervision

Brussels, 13-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The Council today¹ set out its position on two proposals aimed at establishing a single supervisory mechanism (SSM) for the oversight of credit institutions. Agreement in the Council will enable the presidency to negotiate with the European Parliament with … Read the full press release

EU takes key step to provide legal certainty for investors outside Europe

Brussels, 13-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission today welcomes the adoption by the European Parliament and Council of new legislation on bilateral investment agreements. This is a key step in respect of foreign direct investment, which has become an exclusive EU … Read the full press release

Airports: groundhandling rules need further debate, say MEPs

13-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — New rules governing decisions on how best to protect local residents against aircraft noise and allocate take-off and landing fairly and flexibly were approved by MEPs on Wednesday. A proposal to further increase competition among groundhandling service … Read the full press release

Druga szansa dla uczciwych przedsiębiorstw: Komisja proponuje nowoczesne prawo upadłościowe

Strasburg, 13-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Dla przedsiębiorstw, które ucierpiały wskutek kryzysu gospodarczego, „deską ratunku” będzie propozycja unowocześnienia europejskiego prawa dotyczącego transgranicznych postępowań upadłościowych. Komisja Europejska przedstawiła dziś projekt dający „drugą szansę” firmom, które w normalnych warunkach byłyby rentowne. Komisja proponuje uaktualnić obecne przepisy … Read the full press release

Mergers: Commission welcomes General Court judgment in Electrabel case

Brussels, 13-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission welcomes today’s judgment by the General Court (GC) which fully dismissed Electrabel’s appeal of a Commission decision of June 2009 fining Electrabel €20 million for acquiring control over Compagnie Nationale du Rhône without prior … Read the full press release

Eleven EU countries get Parliament’s all clear for a financial transaction tax

13-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Eleven EU countries planning to introduce a financial transaction tax (FTT) won a resounding go-ahead from MEPs on Wednesday. Together, they account for 90% of Eurozone GDP. MEPs have long advocated an FTT to make financial market … Read the full press release

Giving honest businesses a second chance: Commission proposes modern insolvency rules

Strasbourg, 13-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Businesses hit by the economic crisis will be thrown a lifeline under a new proposal from the European Commission today to modernise Europe’s rules on cross-border business insolvency, helping to give otherwise viable businesses a ‘second chance’. … Read the full press release

ADVERTENCIA AL PÚBLICO DE ENTIDAD NO REGISTRADA EN SUPERVISORES INTERNACIONALES

12-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — La Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) hace públicas las advertencias recibidas a través de los supervisores de los mercados de Portugal y Reino Unido. El supervisor portugués informa de que AWI FINANCIAL (WWW.AWIFINANCIAL.COM) no es … Read the full press release

ESMA finalises guidelines on repo arrangements for UCITS funds

12-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has today published its final guidelines on repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements for UCITS funds. The guidelines state that UCITS should only enter into such agreements if they are able … Read the full press release

MEPs urge member states to address fundamental rights flaws

12-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — EU countries must do more to protect fundamental rights, including those of national minorities, LGBT people and migrants, says a resolution adopted by Parliament on Wednesday. The text calls for a continuous assessment of member states’ compliance … Read the full press release

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Austrian mobile phone operator Orange by H3G, subject to conditions

Brussels, 12-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Orange’s mobile telephony business in Austria by Hutchison 3G (H3G). The approval is conditional upon the implementation of a commitments package that will … Read the full press release

Parliament approves EU unitary patent rules

11-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — EU inventors will soon be able to get a unitary patent at last. After over 30 years of talks, a new regime will cut the cost of an EU patent by up to 80%, making it more … Read the full press release

Council adopts EU-wide rules on the marketing and use of explosives precursors

Brussels, 11-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The Council adopted today a regulation (PE-CONS 48/12) on the marketing and use of explosives precursors. The new rules address the problem of the misuse of certain chemicals that are explosives precursors for the illicit manufacture of … Read the full press release

Digital Agenda: Commission suspends Czech proposal to regulate wholesale termination rates

Brussels, 11-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has expressed serious doubts about a new proposal from the Czech telecoms regulator (ČTÚ) regarding termination rates which would negatively affect consumers in the Czech Republic. The prices proposed by ČTÚ for certain termination … Read the full press release

Sakharov representatives to debate Iran with MEPs

11-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The foreign affairs and development committees and the human rights subcommittee will meet the representatives of the 2012 Sakharov prize laureates at 18.30, on Monday, in room LOW N1.4, to discuss the human rights situation in Iran. … Read the full press release

Digital Agenda – European Commission raises serious doubts over contradictory Polish proposal on broadband market

Brussels, 11-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Commission has expressed serious doubts over plans by the Polish telecoms regulator UKE to deregulate part of the Polish wholesale broadband access market. UKE’s proposal is based on an out-dated market assessment from March 2011. … Read the full press release

University of Helsinki – Equal before the law

Equal before the law

University of Helsinki students of law are involved in a project to establish legal aid offices in Central Asia for women, the young, and people with disabilities. 11-12-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — Funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and implemented by the Eurasia … Read the full press release