European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Rafał Mańko
Protecting EU common values within the Member States: An overview of monitoring, prevention and enforcement mechanisms at EU level
Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) lays down the founding values of the European Union, referring to ‘human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities’. Continue reading
The State of the Union debate in the European Parliament, 2020
The State of the Union address of 2020 will be delivered at a time when the coronavirus pandemic continues to create challenges for the European Union and its Member States. Continue reading
Coronavirus and elections in selected Member States
With the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, many countries around the world that were or are due to organise elections or referendums, have had to decide whether to hold them as originally planned, introducing mitigating measures, put them on hold or postpone them to a later date. Continue reading
Reform of the Service of Documents Regulation [EU Legislation in Progress]
In May 2018, the Commission put forward a proposal for amending the existing Regulation on Cross-border Service of Documents in civil proceedings. The proposal aims, above all, to replace the existing mechanisms of paper transmission with an electronic system. Continue reading
Revising the Taking of Evidence Regulation [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 31 May 2018, the Commission proposed a proposal for a new regulation on taking of evidence in civil proceedings. It takes stock of the existing regulation (from 2001), but provides for a number of changes to remove legal uncertainty and to promote electronic communications. Continue reading
How the EU budget is spent: Fight against fraud: Pericles 2020, Hercule III and AFIS
Member States share an obligation with the EU to protect the Union’s financial interests and to counter fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities affecting them under Article 325 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), on which the EU anti-fraud programme is based. Continue reading
Protecting the EU budget against generalised rule of law deficiencies [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 3 May 2018 the Commission put forward a proposal for a regulation on the protection of the Union’s budget in the event of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in a Member State. Continue reading
Contracts for the supply of digital content and digital services [EU Legislation in Progress]
The digital content directive was proposed by the European Commission as part of a legislative package, alongside the online sales directive, to facilitate the development of the internal market for such content. Continue reading
New laws needed for robots [What is Europe doing for its citizens?]
Written by Rafał Mańko, The European Parliament has recently called upon the Commission to table a legislative proposal laying down a set of civil law rules on robotics and artificial intelligence. These should address such issues as liability for damages caused by a robot, as well as establish a European agency for robotics and artificial … Continue reading
Rights for consumers of digital content [What is Europe doing for its citizens?]
Written by Rafał Mańko, In December 2015, the European Commission proposed legislation that would grant consumers of digital content a set of uniform rights across the EU. The proposal is now before the European co-legislators – the Parliament and Council. A growing online market Contracts for the supply of digital content are concluded on a … Continue reading
Contracts for the supply of digital content and personal data protection
Written by Rafał Mańko and Shara Monteleone, The proposed directive on the supply of digital content is intended to regulate the main contractual rights and duties of parties to contracts for the supply of digital content and services, and create a harmonised legal framework for digital content to benefit both consumers and businesses. It covers … Continue reading
Revision of EU financial rules [EU Legislation in Progress]
In September 2016, the Commission tabled a proposal for a new Financial Regulation which would replace the current one (together with its Rules of Application), as well as amend 15 other sectoral instruments each containing financial rules. The Commission justifies its proposal by the need to simplify EU financial rules and make them more flexible. Continue reading
Consumer sale of goods [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 22 February 2018, the European Parliament’s Committee for the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) adopted its report on the Commission proposal for a new directive on the consumer sale of goods. Continue reading
How the EU budget is spent: Justice Programme (2014-2020)
Written by Rafał Mańko, EU law is applied on a daily basis by national judges in the Member States, who rely on assistance from the EU Court of Justice only in the most complicated cases. Judges otherwise interpret and apply EU law on their own. In the European area of freedom, security and justice, national … Continue reading
Civil law rules on robotics [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Rafal Manko, The Legal Affairs (JURI) Committee has tabled a report with recommendations to the Commission on the civil-law and ethical aspects of robotics. The report calls for EU legislation introducing a register of robots, setting up an EU Agency for Robotics and laying down principles of civil liability for damages caused by … Continue reading
Court of Justice rules on passenger compensation for flight delays
Written by Rafał Mańko According to EU law, passengers have the right to a fixed level of compensation if their flight is cancelled or subject to a long delay. However, airlines can escape liability if they prove that ‘extraordinary circumstances’ caused the cancellation or delay. The Court of Justice of the EU has recently ruled … Continue reading
European contract law and the Digital Single Market: Policy Hub
Written by Rafał Mańko On Friday, 18 September 2015, the EPRS Citizens’ Policies Unit held a Policy Hub devoted to ‘European contract law and the Digital Single Market’. Moderated by Piotr Bąkowski, Policy Analyst with the Citizens’ Policies Unit of the Members’ Research Service, the Policy Hub brought together a renowned expert in the field, … Continue reading
Europeanisation of Civil Procedure
Written by Rafał Mańko On Friday, 26 June 2015, the EPRS Citizens’ Policies Unit, in cooperation with the European Added Value Unit, held a Policy Hub devoted to the Europeanisation of Civil Procedure. Moderated by Etienne Bassot, Director of the Members’ Research Service, the Policy Hub brought experts in the field like Stefaan Voet and Bart Krans together … Continue reading
Reform of the European Small Claims Procedure [EU Legislation in Progress]
Written by Rafał Mańko (2nd edition) On 23 June 2015, the European Parliament and the Council agreed on a compromise regarding the reform of the European Small Claims Procedure (ESCP). The compromise, which still requires to be formally adopted by the two co-legislators in the coming months, provides that the ceiling for claims will be … Continue reading
The European Small Claims Procedure: The Forthcoming Reform
Written by Rafal Manko On Friday, 23 January 2015 the Citizens’ Policies Unit held a Policy Hub devoted to the forthcoming reform of the European Small Claims Procedure (ESCP). The Commission proposal to modify this procedure is now on the table of the Legal Affairs Committee which is working on possible amendments, making the topic … Continue reading
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