About: Didier Reynders
Pegasus: MEPs lash out at EU Commission for inaction
EU lawmakers revisited on Wednesday (4 May) new revelations of spying on European officials by the Pegasus software, criticising the lack of action by the European Commission, which prefers to leave the affair to the member states to handle.
How Poland blew its chance to get billions in EU recovery cash
The EU's Justice Commissioner received "brutal" treatment last month in Warsaw, a member of his delegation said, during talks aimed at defusing a dispute over the independence of Poland's judiciary that is blocking billions of euros in economic aid.
Polish court delays ruling in landmark EU row case
Poland's top court on Tuesday (13 July) delayed issuing a ruling in a landmark case on whether the Polish constitution or EU law have primacy in the member state, amid a bitter row with Brussels.
MEPs bemoan ‘spaghetti’ of travel rules across EU
The EU is facing a patchwork across the bloc when it comes to travelling, despite having a fully running EU digital covid certificate. As the delta variant surges across the bloc, MEPs call for implementing harmonised measures instead of national restrictions.
Report: Europe may lose €2 trillion in 10 years if uncertainty over data transfers continues
Restricting data flows in Europe might lead to economic damage worth €2 trillion by 2030, roughly the size of Italy’s economy, and result in two million fewer new jobs, a new industry study has warned.
Parliament approves COVID certificate, passes the baton to member states
On Tuesday (8 June) the EU Parliament voted in favour of the EU digital COVID certificate initiative, bringing the EU one step closer to finalising the initiative due to come into force on 1 July.
EU executive urges reopening in summer to vaccinated tourists
The European Commission proposed on Monday (31 May) that vaccinated people should be exempt from testing or quarantines when travelling from one EU country to another, and urged a gradual easing of travel measures as COVID-19 inoculations accelerate.
Slovenian PM Janša faces EU pressure for hindering EPPO
As Slovenia prepares to take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, the country's prime minister, Janez Janša, is under pressure from the European Parliament to stop obstructing the work of the Office of the European Public Prosecutor (EPPO).
Many issues left to countries’ will on EU COVID certificate
European lawmakers have reached an agreement on the EU digital COVID-19 certificate aimed at avoiding conflicting border rules across the bloc during the holiday season, but some issues related to its implementation will depend on national decision-makers.
Parliament gives green light for COVID-19 certificate negotiations
European lawmakers adopted their negotiating position on the European Commission's proposal for the digital green certificates on Thursday (29 April), paving the way for what is likely to be a tough inter-institutional negotiation with the Council representing the 27 member states.
Reynders warns of risks of disjointed COVID vaccine records
European Union countries introducing their own COVID vaccination certificates would have to grapple with a myriad of disjointed systems if the bloc fails to build a shared one, a senior official said on Wednesday (28 April).
Airlines could use new EU COVID pass this summer, Reynders tells MEPs
Airlines could check new European Union COVID certificates before allowing onboard passengers going on summer holidays, a senior official said on Tuesday (13 April) as the bloc seeks to restart a travel sector ravaged by the pandemic.
Commission ‘not naive’ about UK’s data ambitions, Reynders assures MEPs
The European Commission is 'not naive' to the UK's future ambitions in the data space and will be 'prepared' to suspend transfers of personal data to the country should the UK in the future diverge from EU standards, Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders has said.
MEPs threaten to sue over European Prosecutors’ appointments
The European Parliament is requesting all documentation concerning the nominations for the European Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) of the candidates from Belgium, Bulgaria and Portugal, where national ministers overruled the selection committee picks.
EU sets Poland new ultimatum in judicial freedom case
The European Commission on Wednesday (27 January) gave Poland a month to halt the work of a disciplinary chamber accused of posing a threat to judicial independence, after Warsaw ignored earlier complaints.
EU Commission aims to tackle greenwashing in new consumer agenda
Avoiding greenwashing and providing customers with more information about the sustainability of products is a key part of the Commission’s new consumer agenda, launched on Friday (13 November).
Council of Europe calls for greater oversight on intelligence community’s surveillance powers
The Council of Europe insists that there is an urgent need to provide "effective oversight" on the surveillance activities of international intelligence agencies and the threats to privacy that emerge as a result
European Commission pushes member states for common travel rules
The European Commission on Friday (4 September) proposed a set of recommendations to prevent discriminatory measures applied by member states in a new attempt to harmonise fragmented COVID-19 travel restrictions across the bloc.
European justice ministers promise to combat disinformation and racism
Rule of law as a priority of the German EU Council presidency was an open secret long before the programme was presented. Thus, it was only fitting that the first Council meeting chaired by Germany was that of the ministers of justice. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Commission conducting ‘preparatory work’ should ECJ invalidate privacy shield
The European Commission is preparing for the eventuality that the European Court of Justice (ECJ) may invalidate the EU-US data transfer agreement, known as the Privacy Shield, Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders has said.
Commission study calls for ‘sanctions’ for online disinformation
A European Commission study on the effectiveness of the EU's code of practice against disinformation has criticised the self-regulatory nature of the framework, suggesting that "sanctions and redress mechanisms" should be put into place in order to ensure compliance with the rules.
MEPs enticed by lure of airline vouchers over refunds
Members of the European Parliament are increasingly siding with the aviation industry's plans, already backed by most EU countries, to reimburse passengers with vouchers instead of cash refunds. Their support may force the Commission to change the rules, which it has so far resisted.
EU stands by its data privacy rules in response to COVID-19
Europe cannot win the fight against the coronavirus without digital technologies, the European Commission said in a video call with EU-27 health ministers on Monday (27 April). But this must not come at the expense of EU data protection rules, which must remain a "global gold standard".