European Union

Two suspected IS terrorists who grew up in Britain are to go on trial in the US. Contrary to expectations London has sought no assurances that Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, known as the Islamic State "Beatles", will not receive the death penalty. British media are angered by the government's stance.

European courts have repeatedly handed down sentences to sex offenders that the public considers too lenient. Commentators have focussed recently on cases in Spain and Turkey. They call for the offenders to receive just punishment rather than being given lenient sentences on the grounds of extenuating circumstances.

Tehran has responded to a tweet in which US President Trump threatened Iran with war. Trump is the biggest threat to his country and the international community, an advisor to Iranian President Rouhani stated. The US president must be extremely careful in his dealings with Iran, commentators warn.

In connection with reports of a Polish 'waste mafia' earning money with garbage, the Commission announced that it would monitor the situation. However, is emphasized that enforcement is the responsibility of the member states. EURACTIV Poland reports.

The European Court of Justice has decided that the iconic four-fingered design of Nestlé’s KitKat chocolate bar is not entitled to protection under the EU’s intellectual property protection scheme.

While Europe is undergoing an unusual summer weather pattern, infected ticks and the related Lyme disease are spreading through the continent, reflecting the growing impact of climate change on health.

Vernaza Ayovi
DFON
The framework agreement on fixed-term work does not mean that non-permanent workers in the Spanish public sector must be guaranteed reinstatement in the event that their disciplinary dismissal is found to be wrongful

AY
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
The execution of a European arrest warrant cannot be refused on the ground that a decision of the Public Prosecutor’s Office has closed a criminal investigation when, during that investigation, the requested person was interviewed as a witness only

The European Union Commission is preparing to introduce tariffs on $20 billion of US goods if Washington imposes trade levies on imported cars, EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström told the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter today (25 July).

Société des produits Nestlé v Mondelez UK Holdings & Services
Intellectual and industrial property
EUIPO must reconsider whether the three-dimensional shape of a ‘4 Finger KitKat’ can be retained as an EU trade mark

Dyson
Energy
Not providing consumers with information on the testing conditions that resulted in the energy classification indicated on the energy label of vacuum cleaners does not constitute a ‘misleading omission’

Commission v Spain and Others
State aid
The Court of Justice sets aside the judgment of the General Court on the ‘Spanish tax lease system’

Generalstaatsanwaltschaft (Conditions de détention en Hongrie)
DFON
An assessment of detention conditions in the issuing Member State made prior to the execution of a European arrest warrant must be limited to the prisons in which it is actually intended that the person concerned will be held

Minister for Justice and Equality
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
A judicial authority called upon to execute a European arrest warrant must refrain from giving effect to it if it considers that there is a real risk that the individual concerned would suffer a breach of his fundamental right to an independent tribunal and, therefore, of the essence of his fundamental right to a fair trial on account of deficiencies liable to affect the independence of the judiciary in the issuing Member State