The European Union is a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is the first and, thus far, the only human rights treaty to which the EU is a party. 

On Tuesday, the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union declared the Commission’s US Safe Harbour Decision invalid. The Court’s ruling in Case C-362/14   of the Austrian Internet activist Maximillian Schrems v the Irish Data Protection Commissioner is a milestone in the protection of European fundamental rights, but it also preserves space for different national supervisory standards and national discretion on whether data may actually be transferred. Is the ruling opening the way for a patchwork of national data protection? How does this ruling influence the TTIP negotiations?

What works to make EU law work? Or, how can we ensure that EU law is implemented effectively in the member states? I have researched[1] this question by studying the usefulness of instruments that are meant to support national administrations in the application of EU law or that may otherwise be expected to have a supportive effect (‘compliance instruments’). The instruments that are included are monitoring and sanctioning tools and post-legislative guidance (supranational instruments); networks that allow for cross-border cooperation (transnational instruments); and civil society and case law (national instruments).

In September 2015 for the second time this year, after a first mobilization of more resources in June 2015 already,[1] the European Commission announced additional financial assistance of €801.3 million from the 2015 EU budget to tackle the current refugee crisis in the European Union (EU).[2]

Today the European Commission released its first set of decisions on corporate tax rulings, which it has investigated for over a year. Starbucks Manufacturing EMEA and Fiat Finance and Trade were the first test cases where final decisions have been issued.

It has just been accepted by the Dutch Second Chamber, but that does not mean it will make it past the First. That's the status of the tax plan right now. And indeed... This blog is only available in Dutch.

Do you know Saúl Luciano Lliyua? Saúl is a Peruvian farmer. He lives in the Andes, near a glacier that has been melting rapidly over the last ten years... This blog is only available in Dutch.

No one will have failed to notice the United Kingdom's referendum on membership of the EU. To avoid a British exit, an agreement   has been reached... This blog is only available in Dutch.

On 19 February 2016, the European Council reached agreement on the Brexit dossier (EUCO 1/16); if the British decide to remain in the union on 23 June 2016, certain thing will change, or at least, will have to change... This blog is only available in Dutch. 

On 10 June 2016, France and Romania will be kicking off the first match of the European Cup 2016. The Netherlands will not be participating. Yet, the Euro2016 will be dominating the news during the month of June... This blog is only available in Dutch.