European courts

The advocate general at the European Court of Justice has argued that the personal liability of managing directors for cartel fines imposed on their companies should be limited. The opinion addresses how far a 'Betrieb' (the business) can be held responsible through its leadership when competition authorities impose financial penalties for cartel participation.

Spain's Constitutional Court has ruled in favour of the leaders of the Catalan independence push, and Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena has lifted the European arrest warrant against Carles Puigdemont. The former Catalan president, who has lived in exile in Belgium since 2017, can now return to Spain without facing immediate arrest, a major development in the long-running 'procés' legal saga.

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Serbia failed a Romani child who was the victim of an assault, finding the state did not adequately protect or respond to the attack. The judgment was highlighted by the European Roma Rights Centre, which works on anti-Roma discrimination cases across Europe.

A German-language legal commentary argues that Belgium's system of financing recognised religions and philosophical worldviews is under strain. The analysis examines tensions between the state's constitutional duty of active neutrality and case law of the European Court of Human Rights, raising questions about whether the long-standing funding model can survive scrutiny.

A round-up published on EJIL: Talk!, the blog of the European Journal of International Law, reviews key developments in international law and human rights from 7 September to 2 October 2026. Such periodic reviews typically summarise court rulings, treaty developments, and major diplomatic events for legal scholars and practitioners following the field.

European football player unions are pursuing strategic human rights litigation aimed at securing better working and health conditions for professional players. The legal strategy uses human rights frameworks to push for improvements in areas such as workload, injury protection and medical care. The approach signals a shift toward courts and rights-based arguments rather than purely collective bargaining. Details on which unions are involved and the specific claims remain limited.

A French court has convicted and sentenced six human traffickers for their roles in a deadly migrant crossing of the English Channel. The smugglers were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after a crossing ended in deaths. The verdict is being closely followed amid ongoing debate over Channel crossings, smuggling networks, and the failure of European governments to stop the dangerous route.

A roundtable has been held in Serbia on the execution of judgments concerning ill-treatment by police, organised in connection with the Council of Europe's process of overseeing that Court rulings are implemented. The discussion focused on how Serbia is carrying out the required reforms to prevent police abuse and ensure accountability for victims.

A court ruling has cleared a key legal obstacle for Carles Puigdemont, the exiled Catalan separatist leader, to return to Spain. The decision removes one of the main barriers that had kept the former Catalan president abroad since the 2017 independence bid, and is being closely watched for what it means for Spain's long-running political and legal standoff over Catalonia.

The EU's ambassador to the United Kingdom says Brussels will be 'ready to engage' once Britain decides what it actually wants from the relationship. In remarks reported by the Guardian, the envoy framed the next move as London's, signalling that the bloc will not table new proposals while the UK's own position remains unresolved. The comments land as British and European officials weigh resets on trade, defence and mobility ties after Brexit.

The European Union's ambassador to Bangladesh said the country needs strong institutions and effective oversight mechanisms if it wants to attract more foreign investment. The remarks underline the EU's view that investor confidence depends on reliable governance, transparency and the rule of law, and come as Bangladesh seeks to expand trade and economic ties with Europe.

The European Commission's CORDIS research service has published a results briefing on the HRoN project, a Horizon-funded study investigating whether natural entities such as rivers, forests or ecosystems could be granted legal rights. The write-up outlines the project's examination of how such 'rights of nature' frameworks might work in law and what granting nature legal standing would mean for governance, environmental protection and courts.

An adviser to the European Court of Justice has indicated that EU data protection rules may give people the right to have their baptismal records erased. The opinion suggests Catholic Church registers could fall under GDPR, raising questions about religious institutions' record-keeping obligations. The non-binding advice has drawn attention from religious and rights groups as the court weighs the case.

The European Court of Justice has sharpened the legal definition of 'dismissal' in a ruling with implications for employers relocating operations. The decision suggests that moving a workplace in a way that effectively ends employment relationships may qualify as dismissal, triggering workers' rights and protections. Employment lawyers say companies planning relocations across the EU should reassess their obligations toward affected staff.

Spain and China are strengthening their strategic partnership, a move drawing criticism from within the European Union. The diplomatic alignment underscores growing tensions between Madrid and Brussels over how to handle relations with Beijing, with Spain pursuing closer commercial and political ties even as the EU takes a more cautious stance toward China.

French courts are issuing deportation rulings that highlight how judges weigh conflicting legal rules on forced removal. The cases show magistrates balancing France's immigration enforcement aims against European and international protections for migrants, producing decisions that vary case by case. The rulings are drawing attention to the tensions between national deportation policy and higher legal obligations.

Google has asked a European Union court to suspend an order requiring it to share search data with competitors, escalating its dispute with EU regulators over the remedies tied to antitrust findings. If the suspension is granted, Google would not have to open its search data to rivals while the legal challenge proceeds. The move is drawing attention because it could shape competition in Europe's search market and test the reach of EU antitrust enforcement.

Ukraine's former president and his son have failed in a legal bid to overturn European Union sanctions imposed on them. A court rejected their attempt to be removed from the EU's restrictive measures list, meaning asset freezes and travel bans remain in force. The case stems from measures tied to events surrounding Ukraine's political turmoil in 2014.

KPMG's EU Tax Centre has published a new edition of its E-News, a regular briefing covering tax developments within the European Union. The update typically tracks EU-level tax policy changes, court rulings, and legislative proposals relevant to businesses operating in Europe. It is aimed at tax professionals and companies monitoring EU regulatory developments.

A Council of Europe delegation has travelled to Bucharest for talks with Romanian authorities on the execution of judgments from the European Court of Human Rights. The mission focuses on how Romania is implementing rulings of the Strasbourg court, a recurring point of dialogue between the organisation and its member states. Details of specific cases discussed have not been made public.

EU member states have appointed judges to the European Union's courts, a routine but significant step in staffing the bloc's judicial system. The appointments affect the Court of Justice and the General Court, which rule on EU law disputes across member states. Details on the individual judges and their terms were not immediately provided.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for expanded cooperation with Bavaria in advanced manufacturing and technology. The appeal, reported by the Astana Times, signals Astana's push to strengthen industrial and innovation ties with the German state as Kazakhstan seeks foreign investment and expertise to modernise its economy and diversify beyond natural resources.

The EU General Court has upheld a ban preventing six Hungarian universities from receiving EU funding. The ruling confirms the European Commission's earlier decision, which linked the funding restrictions to concerns over academic independence and governance in Hungary. The decision is a setback for Budapest, which has challenged the measures, and is likely to deepen ongoing disputes between Brussels and the Hungarian government over rule-of-law issues.

Völkerrechtsblog has published a piece examining whether the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg operates within a legal vacuum or merely faces legal uncertainty. The discussion weighs whether gaps in the Court's jurisprudence reflect a true absence of applicable law or simply contested interpretations of the European Convention on Human Rights among judges and scholars.

The European Commission is taking Greece and Cyprus to court over poor waste management practices. The legal action, reported by Yahoo News, signals that the EU is escalating enforcement against member states that fail to meet bloc-wide environmental and waste disposal standards.

Google has filed a legal challenge against the European Union over rules requiring it to share search data with AI competitors. The case marks a new front in the standoff between major technology firms and Brussels over digital market regulation, with implications for how AI companies can access data controlled by dominant search platforms.

A French court has sentenced six men to prison for manslaughter in connection with a mass drowning in the Channel, where migrants died attempting the crossing. The verdict addresses the role of those involved in organising the fatal journey. It lands amid continued debate over Channel crossings and European migration policy.

The President of the European Court of Human Rights held a meeting with Germany's Federal Foreign Minister. The talks, announced by the Council of Europe, come amid ongoing debate across Europe over the Court's role and member states' compliance with its rulings. Details of the discussion, including whether specific cases or reforms were raised, have not been disclosed.