Assistant lawyer Nikola Cīparsone compiled the material.
EU Law
Commission welcomes G7 leaders’ agreement on Guiding Principles and a Code of Conduct on Artificial Intelligence
Published: 30 October 2023
The Commission welcomes the agreement by G7 leaders on International Guiding Principles on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a voluntary Code of Conduct for AI developers under the Hiroshima AI process.
These principles and the voluntary Code of Conduct will complement, at international level, the legally binding rules that the EU co-legislators are currently finalising under the EU AI Act.
See also: G7 Leaders’ Statement on the Hiroshima AI Process
ESG
European Green Bonds: Council adopts new regulation to promote sustainable finance
Adopted: 23 October 2023
The Council has approved a regulation that establishes a standard for European green bonds. This regulation establishes consistent criteria for bond issuers who want to label their environmentally sustainable bonds as ‘European green bonds’ or ‘EuGB’.
See also: Press release
Energy / Transport
Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 on ensuring a level playing field for sustainable air transport (ReFuelEU Aviation)
Published: 31 October 2023
The regulation establishes consistent guidelines for the adoption and distribution of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). It is applicable to aircraft operators, airport authorities, and fuel suppliers within the European Union (EU). Its scope is limited to commercial air transport flights and does not affect the provisions in paragraph 3 of the Act. The regulation aims to mandate fuel suppliers to gradually incorporate higher proportions of sustainable aviation fuels into the jet fuel loaded at EU airports, including synthetic low-carbon fuels.
See also: Press release
Other
Directive (EU) 2023/2225 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 on credit agreements for consumers and repealing Directive 2008/48/EC
Published: 30 October 2023
This Directive establishes a standardized framework for the alignment of specific elements within the laws, regulations, and administrative measures of EU Member States related to consumer credit agreements. It supersedes and revokes Directive 2008/48/EC, commonly referred to as the Consumer Credit Directive.
See also: Press release
Judgement
Court of Justice: GDPR precludes national rules imposing obligation on the data subject to pay a fee to receive a first copy of medical records
Issued: 26 October 2023
A patient wants to obtain a copy of his medical records from his dentist in order to potentially hold the dentist responsible for alleged errors in his dental treatment. However, the dentist insists that the patient must bear the expenses associated with obtaining the medical records, as required by German law.
The court emphasizes that under the GDPR, patients have the right to receive an initial copy of their medical records without any inherent cost. The data controller is allowed to impose a fee only if the patient has already received a complimentary first copy of their data and is now making an additional request for the same information.
