In the matter of “The Alexandros T”; In the matter of “The Alexandros T” (No 2); In the matter of “The Alexandros T” (No 3) – Supreme Court

Posted November 18th, 2013 in appeals, damages, EC law, indemnities, insurance, law reports, Supreme Court by sally

In the matter of “The Alexandros T”; In the matter of “The Alexandros T” (No 2); In the matter of “The Alexandros T” (No 3) [2013] UKSC 70 (YouTube)

Supreme Court, 6th November 2013

Source: www.youtube.com/user/UKSupremeCourt

GMC welcomes Europe language rules – BBC News

Posted November 18th, 2013 in doctors, EC law, immigration, news, standards by sally

“Doctors and other professionals moving from Europe to work in the UK will have their fluency in English checked under new rules governing language skills and other safety issues.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Federal Republic of Germany v Puid – WLR Daily

Posted November 15th, 2013 in asylum, EC law, immigration, law reports by sally

Federal Republic of Germany v Puid: Case C-4/11;   [2013] WLR (D)  435

“Where member states could not be unaware that systemic deficiencies in the asylum procedure and in the conditions for the reception of asylum seekers existed in the member state initially identified as responsible for examining an asylum application, the member state which was determining the member state responsible was required not to transfer the asylum seeker to the initial member state and, subject to the exercise of the right itself to examine the application, to establish whether another member state could be identified as responsible in accordance with one of the criteria set out in Chapter III of Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003.”

WLR Daily, 14th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Watch that Charter – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 12th, 2013 in asylum, EC law, human rights, news, torture, treaties by sally

“AB, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 3453 (Admin). Here unfolds a story of sophisticated abuse of the asylum system in this country by an individual skilfully shamming persecution. Nor did the security agents who escorted the claimant on his departure come up smelling of roses: it emerged during the course of these proceedings that they had falsified a room clearance certificate to boost the defence case.”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 8th November 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Minister voor Immigratie en Asiel v X, Y (Hoog Commissariaat van de Verenigde Naties voor de Vluchtelingen intervening); Z v Minister voor Immigratie en Asiel (Joined Cases C-199/12 to C-201/12) – WLR Daily

Minister voor Immigratie en Asiel v X, Y (Hoog Commissariaat van de Verenigde Naties voor de Vluchtelingen intervening); Z v Minister voor Immigratie en Asiel (Joined Cases C-199/12 to C-201/12);  [2013] WLR (D)  427

“The existence of criminal laws which specifically targeted homosexuals, supported the finding that those persons had to be regarded as forming a ‘particular social group’ within the meaning of Council Directive 2004/83/EC. A term of imprisonment which sanctioned homosexual acts and which was actually applied in the country of origin which adopted such legislation had to be regarded as being a punishment which was disproportionate or discriminatory and thus constituted an act of persecution. When assessing an application for refugee status, the competent authorities could not reasonably expect, in order to avoid the risk of persecution, the applicant for asylum to conceal his homosexuality in his country of origin or to exercise reserve in the expression of his sexual orientation.”

WLR Daily, 7th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

UPC Nederland BV v Gemeente Hilversum (Case C-518/11) – WLR Daily

Posted November 11th, 2013 in contracts, EC law, electronic commerce, law reports, media, transfer of undertakings by michael

UPC Nederland BV v Gemeente Hilversum (Case C-518/11);  [2013] WLR (D)  428

“Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (Framework Directive) (OJ 2002 L 108, p. 33, ‘the Framework Directive’), Directive 97/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the telecommunications sector (OJ 1998 L 24, p. 1), Directive 2002/19/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on access to, and interconnection of, electronic communications networks and associated facilities (Access Directive) (OJ 2002 L 108, p. 7), Directive 2002/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services (Authorisation Directive) (OJ 2002 L 108, p. 21), and Directive 2002/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services (Universal Service Directive) (OJ 2002 L 108, p. 51)”

WLR Daily, 7th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Sneller v DAS Nederlandse Rechtsbijstand Verzekeringsmaatschappij NV – WLR Daily

Posted November 8th, 2013 in EC law, insurance, law reports, legal representation by sally

Sneller v DAS Nederlandse Rechtsbijstand Verzekeringsmaatschappij NV: Case C-442/12;   [2013] WLR (D)  426

“Article 4(1) of Council Directive 87/344 on legal expenses insurance precluded a legal expenses insurer, which stipulated in its insurance contracts that legal assistance would in principle be provided in-house, from also providing that the costs of legal assistance provided by a legal representative chosen by the insured would be covered only if the insurer took the view that the handling of the case had to be subcontracted to an external lawyer.”

WLR Daily, 7th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Ministers’ plans will hand more power to Europe, says report – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 7th, 2013 in EC law, news, parliament, reports, select committees by sally

“Europe’s power over British affairs could actually be increased by the Government’s decision to opt back in to a number of criminal justice measures, MPs have warned. The House of Commons’ all-party European Scrutiny committee warned the influence of Parliament and the British courts could suffer if ministers proceed with current plans.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jama v Senior Public Prosecutor, Gera, Germany – WLR Daily

Posted November 4th, 2013 in drug trafficking, EC law, extradition, law reports, warrants by sally

Jama v Senior Public Prosecutor, Gera, Germany [2013] EWHC 3276 (Admin); [2013] WLR (D) 415

“Trafficking khat, which was an offence under German law, was capable of amounting to a framework list offence of ‘illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances’ pursuant to section 64(2) of the Extradition Act 2003 and article 2(2) of Council Framework Decision 2002/583/JHA of 13 June 2002 on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures between member states (‘the Framework Decision’), even though khat was not a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance prohibited by the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988 (‘the 1988 Convention’).”

WLR Daily, 31st October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Regina (Habte) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Regina (RH (Eritrea) and another) v Same – WLR Daily

Posted November 4th, 2013 in asylum, EC law, judicial review, law reports by sally

Regina (Habte) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; Regina (RH (Eritrea) and another) v Same [2013] EWHC 3295 (Admin); [2013] WLR (D) 414

“The procedural requirements to be followed when making a request to another member state pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 to accept responsibility for processing an asylum claim of a third country national were those set out in the relevant European Union regulations themselves. There was no obligation to undertake additional procedural steps either as a matter of domestic public law, or on the basis that further procedural obligations ought to be implied into the provisions of the relevant EU regulations.”

WLR Daily, 30th October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Prudential Assurance Co Ltd v Revenue and Customs Comrs – WLR Daily

Posted October 30th, 2013 in corporation tax, EC law, interest, law reports, restitution, tax credits by sally

Prudential Assurance Co Ltd v Revenue and Customs Comrs [2013] EWHC 3249 (Ch); [2013] WLR (D) 411

“It was within the scope of conforming interpretation to construe section 790 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 as providing for the grant of a tax credit for foreign dividends to the extent necessary to secure compliance with European Union (‘EU’) law.”

WLR Daily, 24th October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

HF(Iraq) and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department; MK(Iraq) v Same – WLR Daily

Posted October 30th, 2013 in appeals, EC law, human rights, immigration, Iraq, law reports, tribunals by sally

HF(Iraq) and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department; MK(Iraq) v Same [2013] EWCA Civ 1276; [2013] WLR (D) 407

“There was no presumption that the eligibility guidelines issued by the UNHCR in relation to Iraq should be followed unless there were cogent reasons for not doing so.”

WLR Daily, 23rd October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Wind farms, birds, and that pesky thing called the rule of law – UK Human Rights Blog

“The current storms brought down a turbine in Teignmouth: see here for good pics of this and other mayhem. And the rule of law recently brought down a massive wind farm proposed for Shetland. The Scottish Ministers had waved aside a request for a public inquiry, and ended up drafting reasons which ignored the obligations in the Wild Birds Directive in respect of this bird – the whimbrel. Lady Clark quashed the consent on this ground, and also decided that the wind farmer could not apply for the consent anyway because it had not got the requisite licence which she concluded was a pre-condition for such an application. ”

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 28th October 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Self-parking cars hit legal obstacles – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 28th, 2013 in EC law, news, parking, road traffic offences by sally

“The dream of owning a car which parks itself will have to wait until the law is changed in Britain and Europe.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 25th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Secretary of State for Health and others v Servier Laboratories Ltd and others National Grid Electricity Transmission plc v ABB Ltd and others – WLR Daily

Secretary of State for Health and others v Servier Laboratories Ltd and others
National Grid Electricity Transmission plc v ABB Ltd and others [2013] EWCA Civ 1234 ; [2013] WLR (D) 401

“It was not mandatory for the court to make use of Council Regulation (EC) No 1206/2001 in order to obtain information or disclosure from a party to litigation from another member state, notwithstanding that compliance with an order made by the court under CPR Pt 18 or Pt 31 might expose the party to a risk of criminal prosecution in that member state.”

WLR Daily, 22nd October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Commission of the European Union v Federal Republic of Germany – WLR Daily

Posted October 24th, 2013 in EC law, enforcement, judgments, law reports, treaties by sally

Commission of the European Union v Federal Republic of Germany: (Case C-95/12);   [2013] WLR (D)  399

“The procedure laid down in article 260(2)FEU of the FEU Treaty had to be regarded as a special judicial procedure for the enforcement of the judgments of the court, ie a method of enforcement.”

WLR Daily, 22nd October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Penalties, PECR and PPI – Panopticon

Posted October 22nd, 2013 in appeals, data protection, EC law, insurance, news, penalties, telecommunications, tribunals by sally

“Niebel v Information Commissioner is the first Tribunal decision about penalties under the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (‘PECR’). Mr.Niebel successfully appealed against a penalty of £300,000.”

Full story

Panopticon, 22nd October 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Meaning of personal data should not be derived solely from Durant case, says High Court judge – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 22nd, 2013 in data protection, EC law, judgments, news by sally

“UK organisations looking to understand whether information they hold constitutes ‘personal data’ must not look solely at how the term was interpreted by the Court of Appeal in 2003, a High Court judge has ruled.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 22nd October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Schwarz v Stadt Bochum – WLR Daily

Posted October 22nd, 2013 in EC law, fingerprints, law reports, news, passports, proportionality by sally

Schwarz v Stadt Bochum: (Case C‑291/12);   [2013] WLR (D)  386

“Article 1(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 of 13 December 2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by member states, as amended, which obliged national authorities to take fingerprints of persons applying for passports, was validly adopted and was proportionate to the aim of protecting against the fraudulent use of passports.”

WLR Daily, 17th October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Emrek v Sabranovic – WLR Daily

Emrek v Sabranovic: (Case C-218/12);   [2013] WLR (D)  390

“Article 15(1)(c) of Council Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 of 22 December 2000 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters did not require the existence of a causal link between the means employed to direct the commercial or professional activity to the member state of the consumer’s domicile. However, the existence of such a causal link constituted evidence of the connection between the contract and such activity.”

WLR Daily, 17th October 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk