Assistant lawyer Nikola Cīparsone compiled the material.
Data protection
Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2023 on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 and Directive (EU) 2020/1828 (Data Act)
Adopted: 13 December 2023
The Act addresses the transformative impact of data-driven technologies on various sectors of the economy. Recognizing the increased volume and potential value of data, the Act aims to eliminate barriers to data sharing, ensuring optimal allocation of data for the benefit of society.
Other
Regulation (EU) 2023/2844 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2023 on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation and access to justice in cross-border civil, commercial and criminal matters, and amending certain acts in the field of judicial cooperation
Adopted: 13 December 2023
Regulation on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation and access to justice in cross-border civil, commercial and criminal matters, and amending certain acts in the field of judicial cooperation and Directive (EU) 2023/2843 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2023 amending Directives 2011/99/EU and 2014/41/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, etc.
European Public Prosecutor’s Office: Judicial review of investigation measures in other Member States must be limited to matters relating to the implementation of the cross-border investigation measures
Judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU, 21 December 2023, case G. K. and Others (C-281/22)
Where the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) conducts an investigation in several Member States of the European Union, the courts of the Member State of the public prosecutor responsible for the investigation are competent to verify the adoption and justification of investigation measures. Judicial review of investigation measures in other Member States may relate only to matters concerning the enforcement of those measures. In the event of serious interference with the rights of the person concerned guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, investigation measures must be subject to prior judicial review in the Member State of the public prosecutor responsible for the investigation.
A new era for corporate taxation in the EU enters into force on 1 January 2024
Entered into force: 1 January 2024
Ground-breaking new EU rules come into effect on 1 January 2024 introducing a minimum rate of effective taxation of 15% for multinational companies active in EU Member States. The rules will apply to multinational enterprise groups and large-scale domestic groups in the EU, with combined financial revenues of more than €750 million a year. They will apply to any large group, both domestic and international, with a parent company or a subsidiary situated in an EU Member State.
The entry into force of the minimum effective taxation rules, unanimously agreed by Member States in 2022, formalises the EU’s implementation of the so-called ‘Pillar 2′ rules agreed as part of the global deal on international tax reform in 2021.
Other news
Decision of the Council: Bulgaria and Romania to join Schengen area starting with air and sea borders
Reached: 30 December 2023
On 30 December, the EU Member States reached an agreement on removing air and maritime internal border controls with Bulgaria and Romania.
Starting from 31 March 2024, there will no longer be checks on persons at EU internal borders between Bulgaria and Romania and the other countries in the Schengen area.
PayPal commits to amending terms & conditions to fully comply with EU consumer rules
Effective as of: 28 May 2024
PayPal has agreed to address the issues raised by the consumer protection authorities and to amend the problematic clauses of its User Agreement to better comply with the Unfair Contract Terms Directive. The commitments made by PayPal will bring the company’s practices in line with the requirements of EU consumer law.
EU prolongs tariff suspension for US products related to the steel and aluminium dispute
Announced: 19 December 2023
The European Union has announced its decision to extend until 31 March 2025 the suspension of its rebalancing tariffs on US products in the context of the steel and aluminium dispute. Initially implemented during the Trump Presidency, the EU rebalancing tariffs on US exports were a response to the US “Section 232” tariffs on steel and aluminium.
