European Union: Government, Public Sector

Germany's Federal Government has introduced a draft bill that explicitly places fusion facilities—including laser fusion plants—under the Radiation Protection Act rather than the more stringent Atomic Energy Act.

Ireland is preparing to implement the EU's e-Evidence Package through new legislation that will establish the Office of Director of Criminal Justice International Cooperation (CJICO), creating one of the EU's busiest justice coordination hubs.

The European Data Protection Board has introduced a draft common data breach notification template designed to standardize breach reporting across EU Data Protection Authorities.

Cross-border parental responsibility disputes raise complex questions of jurisdiction, particularly where children have become settled in another country. The Cyprus Court of Appeal recently examined whether Cypriot courts had jurisdiction over four children who had relocated to Germany, where they were living, attending school, and integrating socially.

Legal professional privilege is not a mere professional convenience nor a technical rule of ethics. It constitutes a fundamental guarantee of the rule of law, a necessary precondition for the proper administration of justice, and an essential component of every person’s right to effective legal assistance.

The Italian Constitutional Court is set to hear a landmark case on June 9, 2026, that could reshape Italian citizenship by descent for millions of descendants worldwide.

The Dutch government has prohibited a US IT company from acquiring Solvinity, the operator behind DigiD, the Netherlands' digital identity verification system. This decision raises important questions about how national security concerns intersect with foreign investment in critical telecommunications infrastructure and what legal mechanisms exist to protect public interests in the digital age.

The European Commission has proposed a new regulation to establish an EU-wide selection procedure for allocating licenses in the 2 GHz mobile satellite services band, with one-third reserved for governmental and defense use and two-thirds for commercial applications. The proposal aims to promote direct-to-device services and technological sovereignty once current authorizations expire in May 2027.

The European Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA) has been granted extensive enforcement powers to oversee compliance across the EU. These powers include the ability to impose administrative measures, pecuniary sanctions of up to €10 million or 10% of annual turnover, and periodic penalty payments on supervised entities. Understanding the scope, conditions, and legal remedies associated with these enforcement tools is critical for financial institutions

As EU leaders advance Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations for the 2028-2034 budget period, Ireland prepares to assume the Council Presidency amid complex debates over budget size, own resources, and competing priorities across defence, energy security, and competitiveness. The negotiations present significant implications for corporate tax policy, energy markets, and regulatory frameworks as Member States navigate fiscal constraints against geopolitical pressures.

On 17 April 2026 ESMA released a statement regarding the end of transitional periods under the MiCA regime. In ESMA’s previous statements about supervisory convergence, transitional measures...

Cyprus continues to leverage its strategic position as an international service centre in 2026, benefiting from competitive tax advantages and a growing technology sector. However, the influx of foreign companies and workers has created significant housing affordability challenges that threaten social equality. The country must balance economic growth with targeted policy responses to ensure prosperity remains inclusive for local residents.