Meklēt
Study in focus: The European Commission's Use of Consultants in Preparing Legislation
The original full study on the Commission's use of consultants in the preparation of legislation was carried out by the Centre for Strategy & Evaluation Services (CSES) in 2022. It examines the European Commission's use of consultants over the past 10 years, its evolution and extent, and considers the budgetary, legal and political implications raised by the current practice.
Criminal procedural laws across the European Union – A comparative analysis of selected main differences and the impact they have over the development of EU legislation
This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the LIBE Committee, examines to what extent differences between national procedural criminal laws hinder the negotiations and the operation of cross-border cooperation instruments. It is based on a comparative analysis of a representative sample of nine Member States. It identifies several forms of “hindrances” to cross-border cooperation, ranging from mere delays ...
Serbia: 2016 country report
In June 2017, the European Parliament is to vote on a motion for a resolution on Serbia's 2016 country report. It acknowledges Serbia's progress with EU accession talks and its rigorous reform agenda, and highlights that dialogue with Pristina and 'rule of law' reforms remain areas for priority action.
Legal aid in criminal proceedings
The EU is close to taking the final step on the long road to improving citizens’ legal defence rights. The October plenary is due to vote on the compromise agreement reached by co-legislators on the proposed legal aid directive.
Legal aid: Impact assessment of substantial amendments
This study was requested by the European Parliament's Committee for Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) as part of the Parliament's general commitment to improving the quality of EU legislation, and in particular its undertaking to carry out impact assessments of its own substantial amendments when it considers it appropriate and necessary for the legislative process. The aim of this ex-ante impact assessment is to evaluate seven substantial amendments to the Commission’s proposal for ...
Follow-Up to the European Parliament's Resolution of 8 September 2015 on 'The Situation of Fundamental Rights in the European Union (2013-2014)'
This study was commissioned by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the LIBE Committee. With a view to support the preparation of the report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union (2015), it examines the follow-up given to the European Parliament resolution of 8 September 2015 on 'The situation of fundamental rights in the European Union (2013-2014)'. It considers the conditions that should be established ...
Lawsuits triggered by the Volkswagen emissions case
In September 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency claimed that Volkswagen had installed illegal software on some of its diesel vehicles, to modify emissions of certain air pollutants. Subsequently, the company has been the subject of legal action brought by consumers, investors, non-governmental organisations and government agencies. In many cases, the plaintiffs have gathered their actions together into collective (or class action) complaints. In the United States, complaints ...
Legal Aid for Suspects or Accused Persons in Criminal Proceedings: Initial Appraisal of the Commission's Impact Assessment
This briefing seeks to provide an initial analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the European Commission's Impact Assessment accompanying its proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on provisional legal aid for suspects or accused persons deprived of liberty and legal aid in European Arrest Warrant Proceedings (COM (2013) 824), submitted on 27 November 2013. This proposal is part of the 2009 Roadmap on Procedural Rights (‘the Roadmap’) aiming at strengthening the ...
Classified Information in light of the Lisbon Treaty
The revision of Regulation No 1049/2001 regarding public access to documents coincides with the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. It highlights the lack of general regulation of the classification of “sensitive” documents in the EU and the absence of transparency in that field. The needs of democratic governance call for a modification of this situation, in order to effectively protect citizens’ rights of access to documents and to ensure a normal exercise of the Parliament's prerogatives.