Criminalising the Legal Profession

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Lawyers and bar associations in Turkey have long faced political and legal pressure. The court case against the Istanbul Bar Association that led to the dismissal of its executive board and the criminal prosecution of board members is another troubling instance of such pressure. The case exemplifies how authoritarian regimes increasingly criminalise lawyers and professional organisations that speak out against rights violations.

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Back to Binary Basics


On April 16 2025, the UK Supreme Court delivered its decision on a fundamental question regarding the interpretation of the terms “sex” and “woman” under the Equality Act. The Court unanimously held that, under the Equaliy Act, the meaning of the word “woman” must be restricted to “biological” women, and does not include trans women, even those who have legally changed their gender under the Gender Recognition Act. The decision risks undermining the UK’s equality law framework and marks a troubling regression in gender rights.

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“The Existence of the ICC Is Largely Due to the Traditions and Experiences of Latin American Countries”

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In an exclusive interview, our partner Agenda Estado de Derecho spoke with Osvaldo Zavala Giler, the first Latin American to assume the position of Registrar of the International Criminal Court, who grants us access to the fascinating and challenging world of international criminal justice. From the operational core of the Court, Zavala leads efforts to ensure that this institution, responsible for adjudicating the most atrocious crimes, operates effectively within an increasingly complex global landscape.

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Migration und Asyl im Koalitionsvertrag


Friedrich Merz bekam mehr als gewollt: Aus dem „Fünf-Punkte-Plan“ des Wahlkampfs wurden 17 Einzelvorhaben im Migrationskapitel des Koalitionsvertrags zwischen CDU, CSU und SPD. Doch liefert der künftige Kanzler damit auch die „grundsätzliche Wende“ und den „Stopp der illegalen Migration“, die sein Wahlprogramm vollmundig versprochen hatte? Kurzfristig hängt das davon ab, welches von zwei Szenarien eintritt, wenn künftig Asylbewerber an der Grenze zurückgewiesen werden.

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In the Name of Primacy


In 1973, Pierre Pescatore noted that “[P]rimacy is an ‘existential requirement’ of EU law”. The Opinion of AG Spielmann in Case C-448/23 (Commission v. Poland), delivered on 11 March 2025, opens with this harsh observation. His difficult task is to frame in legal terms the two essentially political rulings delivered by the Polish Constitutional Tribunal in 2021, where – notoriously – the “captured” domestic court refused to adhere to the most basic principles governing the relationship between national and EU law. This requires adjustments in the current vocabulary of the Luxembourg judges.

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Big Tech Antitrust Scrutiny Across the Atlantic


As Europeans await the European Commission’s enforcement of new tech rules, recent developments in the U.S. remind us that Big Tech scrutiny has been a transatlantic concern. On April 14, 2025, a trial began at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is challenging Meta’s acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram under U.S. antitrust laws. This landmark case raises novel legal issues about mergers that were previously cleared a decade ago and highlights U.S. enforcers’ continued efforts to curb Big Tech power.

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CURRENT DEBATES

Intellectual Property and the Human Right to a Healthy Environment

As climate change worsens, interest is growing in the link between intellectual property protection and environmental sustainability. At the heart of these discussions are concerns that strong IP protection may hinder sustainable practices. This blog symposium brings together leading experts to explore the connection between the Human Right to a Healthy Environment and IP protection.

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OUR LATEST PUBLICATION

Das Bild zeigt das Cover des Buches "Eyes Everywhere". Der Untertitel lautet: "Surveillance and Data Retention under the EU Charter". Farblich ist das Cover in einem dunklen Grau mit pinken Akzenten gestaltet; die Schrift ist weiß.

Erik Tuchtfeld, Isabella Risini & Jakob Gašperin Wischhoff (eds.)
Eyes Everywhere: Surveillance and Data Retention under the EU Charter

In La Quadrature Du Net II, the CJEU significantly lowered standards for mass data retention under the EU Charter, prioritizing security over privacy. This edited volume brings together European and international scholars and practitioners to explore how this shift may affect EU citizens’ protection of fundamental rights and substantially redefine the surveillance and data retention framework for public and private agents.

You can read the book here and order your print copy here!

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Grant Agreement No. 101143236.

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VB Security and Crime

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VB Security and Crime is a cooperation of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law (MPI-CSL) and the Verfassungsblog in the areas of public security law and criminal law. The MPI-CSL Institute is a member of the Max Planck Law network.

Das Justiz-Projekt

Weltweit gerät die unabhängige und unparteiische Justiz unter den Druck des autoritären Populismus.

Wie verwundbar ist die rechtsprechende Gewalt in Deutschland – im Bund und in den Ländern?

VB Security and Crime

In cooperation with:

 

VB Security and Crime is a cooperation of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law (MPI-CSL) and the Verfassungsblog in the areas of public security law and criminal law. The MPI-CSL Institute is a member of the Max Planck Law network.

Das Justiz-Projekt

 

Weltweit gerät die unabhängige und unparteiische Justiz unter den Druck des autoritären Populismus.

Wie verwundbar ist die rechtsprechende Gewalt in Deutschland – im Bund und in den Ländern?