About: independence of judiciary
Top Polish judge orders partial freezing of disputed disciplinary chamber
The head of Poland's Supreme Court on Thursday partially froze a disciplinary chamber for judges at the heart of a deepening dispute with the European Union over judicial independence that could see Warsaw face fines or even an eventual loss of funding.
Legal split looms between EU and Poland, Brussels ‘deeply concerned’
As the EU's highest court and the Polish Constitutional Tribunal remained at loggerheads over bloc law, the European Commission warned Warsaw on Thursday (15 July) it would act to ensure that member states respect the precedence of EU law over their national systems.
EU takes Poland to court over law ‘undermining’ judges
The European Commission said on Wednesday (31 March) it is taking Poland to the European Court of Justice over a reform it says undermines the country's judicial independence. Poland brushed it off, saying it had "no legal or factual justification".
EU court tells Polish judges to ignore national laws breaking bloc law
Judges applying to join Poland’s Supreme Court should have the right to appeal against the opinions of a body which reviews candidates, the EU’s top court said on Tuesday (2 March), underlining a rift over the rule of law between Warsaw and Brussels.
MEPs shut out of Hungary Council hearing as rule of law situation worsens
MEPs are reeling after being shut out of a Council hearing under the Article 7 procedure against Hungary for systemic breaches to the rule of law, as the situation in the country further deteriorates.
Commission refers Poland to top EU court over treatment of judiciary
The European Commission referred Poland to the EU's Court of Justice on Thursday (10 (October) in order to "protect judges from political control" enforced by Poland's ruling conservative PiS party.![The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. 2010 [Gwenael Piaser/Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/4446000283-a31600735c-b.jpeg)
EU top court says German prosecutors can’t issue European arrest warrants
According to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), German public prosecutors are not independent when prosecuting cases. As a result, they will no longer be allowed to issue European arrest warrants, which could considerably increase the work of German courts. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Poland bows to EU court reversal of Supreme Court retirements
Poland on Monday (17 December) bowed to a ruling by the EU’s top court ordering it to suspend a law that had lowered the retirement age of its Supreme Court judges amid concerns about judicial independence. The European Court of Justice (ECJ)...
Chaos as Hungarian MPs pass ‘slave law’ and government-controlled court
Rare scenes of chaos gripped the Hungarian parliament Wednesday (12 December) as it passed a controversial judicial reform, as well as labour legislation that critics call a "slave law".
EU rule of law generally good but clouds on the horizon
EU citizens generally think that judicial independence is going from strength-to-strength but in some countries, like newest member Croatia, the situation is still poor and even declining, according to the EU’s latest justice scoreboard.
US, EU warn against political meddling in Bosnia graft cases
The United States and the European Union yesterday (21 February) warned Bosnia it needed to better protect the judiciary in corruption cases from political pressure, which had resulted in few high-level graft cases being processed in the Balkan country.
The Bulgarian judiciary explained
The judiciary in Bulgaria has been a victim of political dependence and of civil society indifference, the only novelty now is that even the European Commission is willing to close its eyes, writes Krassen Nikolov.
Serbia judges want more transparency, independence, higher pay
There is a widespread lack of trust among judges and prosecutors in Serbia in the process of electing judiciary officials and climbing the career ladder, with eight out of ten believing that those processes are steered by connections and nepotism as much as by objective criteria.
Polish government appears to stay defiant on judiciary reform
Poland's conservative government has little willingness to compromise on its controversial judiciary reform, which has had the Commission up in arms and threatening possible sanctions, despite encouraging signals from Brussels this week based on a new proposal from the country's president.
Uproar over fresh Romanian bid to reform judiciary
Romania's centre-right president and state prosecutor denounced reforms to the justice system unveiled by the Partidual Social Democrat government on Wednesday (23 August) as an attack on the rule of law.
Thousands protest ‘coup against constitution’ in Poland
Thousands of Poles protested on Sunday (16 July) against the government’s attempts to secure full control over the judiciary. EURACTIV Poland's editor-in-chief reports from Warsaw.
Brexit: Future of the European Arrest Warrant in question
With Brexit and two recent controversial cases of extradition requests made this year by Romania, the future of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) is re-emerging as an issue of particular concern, not only in the UK but also in other EU member states, writes Willy Fautré.
Luxembourg foreign minister wants Hungary out of EU
Luxembourg's foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, has called for Hungary to be thrown out of the European Union. EURACTIV Germany reports. VideoPromoted content
Commission rates judiciary independence of EU member states
The European Commission released on Monday the second edition of the EU Justice Scoreboard, aimed to promote quality, independence and efficiency of justice systems in the European Union.
EU warns Moldova over move to sack judges
Moldova's parliament gave itself powers to sack Constitutional Court judges and change election rules, moves Brussels said would harm the country's bid for closer ties with the European Union. VideoPromoted content
EU says Romania needs to ‘do more’ on judicial reforms
After a difficult year for relations between Brussels and Bucharest, the European Commission said on Wednesday that Romania needs to 'do more' to respect the rule of law. Earlier last July, Commission's president Jose Manuel Barroso handed Romanian prime Minister Victor Ponta a 'to-do' list aimed at reforming the judicial system and to fight against corruption. Barroso even said that Romania had shaken “EU's trust”.