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An Italian high school was fined by the data protection authority for using a fingerprint-based attendance system for administrative staff. The authority found the system lacked a legal basis and that employee consent was not a valid justification due to the power imbalance between employer and employee. Following a complaint, the Italian Supervisory Authority (SA) - Garante found out that a high school adopted a biometric recognition system that, in order to detect presence in office and prevent damage and vandalism, required the use of administrative staff's fingerprints. The workers involved were those who had given their consent and did not wish to use traditional methods of attesting their presence at the office. The Italian SA recalled that, according to the GDPR and the Italian Data Protection Code, the use of biometric data in the workplace requires a clear legal provision and specific guarantees for the rights of the data subjects. But the national provisions that prov...

In its judgment dated 1.8.2025 in Joined Cases C-422/23, C-455/23, C-459/23, C-486/23 and C-493/23), the Court of Justice ruled that  the double appointment of judges to the Polish Supreme Court is compatible with EU law. The Civil Chamber of the Polish Supreme Court has doubts about the independence and impartiality of the panels of three judges called upon to rule on five different appeals in cassation. In addition to a judge from the Civil Chamber, those judicial panels include two judges from the Labour and Social Insurance Chamber. The latter have been appointed to sit on the Civil Chamber for a period of three months. The unjustified and unconsented appointments of the latter judges, as well as the appointments of the panels called upon to rule on the five appeals, were decided by the First President and the President of the Civil Chamber of the Polish Supreme Court, who were allegedly appointed judges to that court under conditions incompatible with EU law. [1] The ...

 Written by George Kazoleas, Lawyer in Cyprus Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which enshrines the right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial, states that everyone whose rights and freedoms guaranteed by the law of the Union are violated has the right to an effective remedy before a tribunal in compliance with the conditions laid down in this Article (paragraph 1). This right is guaranteed without limitation to criminal charges and civil rights and obligations. As is well-known, the Charter applies at the national level only when Member States are implementing or derogating from EU law. This specific provision applies to all rights and freedoms deriving from EU law and corresponds to the rights provided for in Article 6, paragraph 1, of the ECHR (right to a fair administration of justice), ensuring, at a minimum, the protection afforded by Article 6 of the ECHR in relation to all rights and freedoms deriving from EU law. The purpose of this article is t...

A company and two of its legal representatives were convicted for a €3.8 million subsidy fraud involving agricultural funds, in the first verdict delivered after a trial by Spanish courts, following an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Madrid (Spain). The Central Criminal Court of Spain sentenced the two defendants to one year's imprisonment and a fine of €3 million. The court also fined the company €3 million and imposed a three-year ban on receiving public subsidies or public funds. In addition, the company will have to reimburse €2 million in funds illegitimately obtained, and the company directors were held to be joint and severally liable. In 2018, the company applied and obtained a subsidy from the Spanish Agricultural Guarantee Fund (SAGF) for the improvement of its facilities for the production of fruit and vegetables. Following this, the defendants also requested a loan from the Catalan Institute of Finance and the Directorate General o...

Erasmus University Rotterdam School of Law, department Law & Markets, is looking for a fulltime PhD researcher in AI, Law and Public Power (4,5 years with 20% teaching tasks). PhD AI, Law and Public Power Are you curious about how artificial intelligence is changing state actor powers? Do you want to conduct critical and in-depth legal research at the intersection of technology, law and power? And would you like to combine that with academic teaching? Then this PhD position at Erasmus School of Law is for you. Within the Law & Markets team, you will spend 4.5 years researching the legal regulation of AI in the public sector. How do we protect fundamental rights when algorithms help decide on who receives public benefits, how to perform enforcement or how to enact environmental policy? What is the role of the state, and where is the limit of government power in a data-driven society? You will have plenty of space to choose your own research angle and work in a multidisci...

In its Judgment (16.7.2025) in Case T-480/24 (Le Pen and Others v Parliament ), the General Court of the European Union upheld the decision of the European Parliament to recover sums unduly received by Jean-Marie Le Pen. In 2024, Jean-Marie Le Pen brought an action before the General Court of the European Union seeking annulment of the decision of the Secretary-General of the European Parliament. By that decision, he was asked to repay €303 200.99, a sum considered to have been wrongly received. According to the Parliament, Mr Le Pen had improperly invoiced personal expenses [1] under budget item 400, intended for MEPs’ parliamentary expenses. [2]  In his action, Mr Le Pen claimed infringement of the principles of legal certainty and legitimate expectations and infringement of his right to a fair trial. The former MEP also sought annulment of the debit note issued against him and an order that the Parliament pay the costs. Following the death of Mr Le Pen on 7 January 2025, his dau...

In the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia the European Court of Human Rights held Russia accountable for widespread and flagrant abuses of human rights arising from the conflict in Ukraine since 2014, in breach of the European Convention. The case concerned the conflict that began in eastern Ukraine in 2014 following the arrival in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of pro-Russian armed groups, and escalated after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine beginning on 24 February 2022. It also concerned the shooting down of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in summer 2014, killing all those on board, many of whom were Dutch nationals. The Court found that Russia was responsible for repeated human-rights violations over a period of more than eight years. This included indiscriminate military attacks; summary executions; torture, notably rape as a weapon of war; unlawful and arbitrary detentions; intimidation and persecution of journalists and religious groups; looting ...

In its Judgment in Case C-582/23 the Court of Justice ruled that the bankruptcy court must be able to examine ex officio whether contractual terms are unfair. That examination may be carried out irrespective of the fact that the list of claims has been approved and is binding.  In Poland, an individual was declared bankrupt. The majority of the claims against him, appearing on a list drawn up by a trustee in bankruptcy, originate in a mortgage loan agreement indexed to the Swiss franc that the bankrupt had concluded 12 years previously, as a consumer.  He acknowledged all those claims, the list of which was also approved by the supervisory judge. On the basis of that list, the bankruptcy court must now either draw up a plan for the repayment of the claims or make a finding that the available assets are sufficient to honour all the debts, thereby making the plan redundant.  At that advanced stage of the proceedings, the bankruptcy court considers that the loan agreement co...

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) issued a  Joint Opinion on the European Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation amending certain regulations, including the GDPR . The Proposal, part of the fourth simplification Omnibus, aims to simplify EU rules and reduce administrative burden, extending certain mitigating measures available for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to small mid-cap enterprises (SMCs), and includes further simplification measures.  The Proposal aims to modify Art.30 (5) GDPR, providing a derogation to the obligation to keep a record of data processing operations. Currently, this derogation only applies to enterprises and organisation under 250 employees, except in certain cases. Under the Proposal, the derogation would apply to an enterprise or organisation employing fewer than 750 people, unless the processing operation carried out is likely to result in a high risk to individuals’ rights and fr...

The recent judgments by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in N.T. v. Cyprus and X v. Cyprus deliver a stark and concerning message regarding the Cypriot authorities' handling of rape and sexual crime cases. These rulings, coming within months of each other, highlight systemic failures rooted in deep-seated biases and a lack of victim-sensitive approaches. A consistent theme across both cases is the pervasive influence of prejudicial gender stereotypes and victim-blaming attitudes. In X v. Cyprus, the ECHR found that the credibility of the young British woman's allegations was assessed based on her perceived "sexual liberty and conduct," effectively suggesting that her prior behavior negated her right to refuse. Similarly, in N.T. v. Cyprus, the authorities disproportionately focused on N.T.'s emotional expressions towards her alleged perpetrator, and her admission of having "liked" him, using these to cast doubt on her credibility and ultimatel...

The European Court of Justice in its Judgment in Case C-618/23 (Salus) ruled that a medicinal herbal tea classified as a traditional herbal medicinal product cannot, in principle, be marketed with the organic logo.  The position may be otherwise where such an indication on the packaging has been approved by the competent authority on account of the beneficial effect of the organic production on the therapeutic characteristics of the medicinal product. The German undertaking SALUS markets herbal medicinal products, including a sage medicinal herbal tea. The packaging of that medicinal product [1] bears the official organic production logo of the European Union. [2]  SALUS intends to market other herbal teas with that logo. Twardy, a competing undertaking, is of the view that EU law precludes the use of the organic logo on the packaging of a medicinal product. It therefore asked the German courts to prohibit SALUS from marketing medicinal herbal teas the packaging of which bears...

By George Kazoleas, Lawyer in Cyprus The Administrative Cooperation in the Field of Taxation (Amending) Law of 2021 was enacted in Cyprus to harmonize with Council Directive (EU) 2018/822 of 25 May 2018, which amends Directive 2011/16/EU regarding the mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation in relation to reportable cross-border arrangements ("DAC 6"). The Law, echoing the Directive, imposes an obligation on every "intermediary" to submit information within thirty (30) days to the competent authority concerning reportable cross-border arrangements that have come into their knowledge, possession, or control. According to the aforementioned Law, an "intermediary" is defined as any person who designs, markets, organizes, makes available for implementation, or manages the implementation of a reportable cross-border arrangement, and/or any person who, taking into account all relevant facts and circumstances, and based on ava...

Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General,  Bjørn Berge , delivered on 16.6.2025 a keynote address in the Conference marking the adoption and opening for signature of the  Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer , which has been signed already by 17 states. In his speech, the Deputy Secretary General pointed out that in a recent CCBE survey, 57% of lawyers reported experiencing threats or aggression in the last two to three years. And that more than a third have considered leaving the profession entirely. He considered this inacceptable and a direct threat to democracy and the rule of law. “This is why the new Council of Europe Convention is critically important; to provide a shield for the lawyers and, through them, for the rule of law,” he said. The event was opened by the Director general, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, Gianluca Esposito. Other keynote speakers included the Commissioner for Human Rights, ...

Greece: The Administrative Court of First Instance of Athens, in its decision no. 4202/2025, has ruled that the Greek State is liable for damages sustained by an individual due to side effects following a preventive "COVID-19" vaccination. This landmark decision was issued in a compensation lawsuit filed against the Hellenic Republic. The Case: Seeking Compensation for Vaccine-Related Harm The lawsuit was brought by a plaintiff seeking compensation for material damage and moral harm (non-pecuniary damage), alleging that they suffered severe side effects after their preventive COVID-19 vaccination with a specific vaccine. The initial claim was for €461,835.26, but this amount was subsequently restricted during the proceedings. The plaintiff based their claim on two legal grounds: Article 105 of the Introductory Law of the Civil Code (EισNAK): This article concerns the State's liability for compensation arising from illegal acts or omissions of its organs in the exe...

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Athens (Greece) has referred on 19.6.2025 to the Hellenic Parliament information regarding the alleged involvement of two former Ministers of Rural Development and Food in criminal offences. The Greek Constitution provides that only the national Parliament has the power to investigate and prosecute serving or even former members of the Greek government.  As previously reported , the EPPO has an ongoing investigation into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving agricultural funds and corruption involving public officials of the Greek Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aids (OPEKEPE). During this investigation, information emerged concerning the possible involvement of two former Ministers in aiding and instigating the misappropriation (breach of trust) of EU agricultural funds during the exercise of their official duties. According to Art. 86 of the Greek Constitution, if during an investigation...

The German Federal Supervisory Authority for Data Protection imposed a fine of €15 000 000 for insufficient supervision and auditing procedures regarding the partner agencies and imposed a reprimand for the weaknesses in the IT systems. Furthermore, it imposed a fine of €30 000 000 for insufficient security measures regarding the online service portal. The German Federal Supervisory Authority (SA) launched investigations regarding Vodafone GmbH’s partner agencies and its online service portal after having received external information outside of any complaints. Vodafone GmbH is a telecommunications service provider operating on the German market. The company uses different distribution channels, including local shops, of which some are operated by partner agencies. They are acting under the Vodafone brand and are bound to the company’s instructions. Their IT systems are based on hard- and software provided by Vodafone. Data Processing Agreements govern the processing of customer da...

European Parliament’s draft assessment of the Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law Report paints a worrying picture about the state of European values. The report endorsed by the Committee on Civil Liberties with 50 votes in favour, 18 against, and four abstentions, takes stock of the  Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law Report  as well as developments across the member states. MEPs call firmer, more consistent enforcement of democratic principles by both member states and the Commission. To prevent backsliding, they ask for an “ever more comprehensive toolbox”, complemented by a “ smart conditionality ” mechanism to ensure that the suspension of EU funds cannot be misused against civil society and local authorities. They reiterate the call for a  fully-fledged mechanism  to protect and enforce  EU values in their entirety , while proposing methodological improvements to the Commission’s annual exercise. Among worrying developments identified this year, MEPs point to r...