European Union

  • Commission's decision on tax lease partially annulled

    On February 2, 2023 the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) partially annulled Commission Decision of 17 July 2013 which declared that the Spanish tax lease system was a state aid scheme and ordered it to be recovered from the investors only.

  • Directive on corporate sustainability reporting is published

    The new EU legislation requires companies to report regularly on the effect of their activities on people and the environment.

  • Member States must assess the environmental impact of urban development projects on places of historical, cultural or archaeological significance, according to the Advocate General of the CJEU

    The Opinion of the Advocate General of the CJEU regarding an urban development project in the historical center of Vienna could create a new line of European case law that provides greater protection for historical, cultural or archaeological heritage.

  • Publication of the EU directive on improving gender balance on company boards

    The new EU rules, which will have to be transposed into national law, promote more balanced representation on the boards of listed companies in all Member States.

  • The Council of the European Union publishes its Decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States

    Member States will take these guidelines into account in determining their employment policies and reform programs, in line with other initiatives to foster sustainability.

  • The European Council approves EU law to improve gender balance on company boards

    The directive lays down that at least 40% of directors of listed companies should be members of the underrepresented sex.

  • Court of Justice of the European Union rules on protection of employment contracts in pre-pack insolvency procedures

    The European Court has issued a sentence of special relevance for the operation and effectiveness of the “pre-pack” insolvency procedures. Specifically, it clarifies the requirements that must be met to respect the rights of workers in the event of business transfers.

  • Reviews, professional reviewers and bot farms: new obligations for online businesses

    Post from Garrigues' IP Blog.

  • Scania & Others/European Comission: the ‘Hybrid procedure and the rights of defense guarantee

    What are the consequences of a settlement procedure where all the companies reach agreement with the authority conducting the investigation phase except one? Could the latter be harmed by not reaching an agreement? How does the principle of presumption of innocence apply given that the other participants in the infringement have already admitted to the facts? In this article, we identify the risks and disadvantages created by the so-called hybrid process and we will see that these can hardly be fully mitigated.

  • The new sustainability directive will lay down due diligence obligations for companies

    European Commission publishes proposal for a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence and a communication on decent work worldwide.