The nine labours of Cameron: Analysis of the plans to change EU free movement law

 Steve PeersAs a penance for terrible sins committed in a moment of insanity, the mythical hero Hercules was required to perform ten great labours – extended to twelve after he cheated on two of them. Similarly, David Cameron has today pledged to insist upon major changes to the rules on free movement of EU citizens, failing which he will advocate Britain leaving the European Union. He clearly considers this necessary in light of the political...

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So long, and thanks for all the fish: the CJEU clarifies international law and institutional issues applying to fisheries

 Steve PeersThe EU’s fisheries policy is controversial both within the EU and outside it, due to its impact on both fish stocks and the livelihoods of fishing communities. Until the Treaty of Lisbon, its application was essentially the sole preserve of the Council. The European Parliament (EP) tried to obtain joint control of some of the external aspects of the policy by claiming that its consent was needed for international fisheries treaties...

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The Domino Effect: how many EU treaties violate the rights to privacy and data protection?

 Steve PeersEarlier this year, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled in the Digital Rights judgment against the validity of the EU’s data retention directive, on the grounds that it provided for mass surveillance without any effective safeguards. Subsequently it ruled against Google,in what has become known as the ‘right to be forgotten’ judgment. What are the longer-term consequences of the Court’s ‘Privacy Spring’? An Irish...

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Amending EU free movement law: What are the legal limits?

Steve PeersMuch public debate in recent weeks has centred upon the possible amendment of EU rules on the free movement of people. In particular, the think-tank Open Europe and the UK Labour party have set out policies on this issue, and Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to make an announcement of his views soon. While most of the discussion focuses on the political and economic aspects of these proposals, there is also an important legal...

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Building the EU Judicial System: Politicians 1, (Judicial) Architects 0

 Steve PeersThe Court of Justice has recently proposed that the EU should double the number of judges on the General Court, and abolish the EU’s Civil Service Tribunal. Why did the Court propose such a dramatic change to the EU judicial system? And is it a good idea?  BackgroundThe development of the EU judicial system has been dominated by a steady increase in the volume of litigation, leading to disputes over how best to manage this workload....

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Capping bankers' bonuses: a step too far for the EU?

Steve PeersBankers are never going to win a popularity contest. The collapse of international financial markets which started in 2008 and has led to austerity across Europe has been widely blamed on lax regulation of banks and irresponsible behaviour by bankers. It has led to a huge overhaul of EU banking regulation, including the transfer of banking supervision to the European Central Bank, new rules on bank bail-outs, and provision for criminal...

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