08 January 2026
Try harder hilft selten
Kriminalitätsbelastete Orte in Berlin werden durch die neue ASOG-Novelle (§ 24e) zu Hochburgen automatisierter Videoüberwachung und KI-gestützter Verhaltensanalyse – ein massiver Eingriff ins Recht auf informationelle Selbstbestimmung. Trotz Versprechen gegen Racial Profiling und diskriminierende Algorithmen bleibt die Regulierung vage, Evidenz zur Wirksamkeit fehlt, und Stereotype drohen Stigmatisierung zu verstärken. Hält die Novelle verfassungsrechtlich stand? Continue reading >>
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07 January 2026
Allwissende Polizei?
Sachsen plant ein neues Polizeigesetz, das intelligente Datenanalysen, KI-gestützte Videoüberwachung und biometrische Abgleiche zum Kern polizeilicher Gefahrenabwehr macht – mit Signalwirkung weit über den Freistaat hinaus. Die „Algorithmisierung“ der Informationsarbeit verschiebt Eingriffsschwellen ins Gefahrenvorfeld, verdichtet Grundrechtseingriffe, erzeugt neue Diskriminierungsrisiken und verlagert zentrale Weichenstellungen vom Parlament in die Verwaltung. Damit stellt sich zugespitzt die Frage, wie viel technologisch gestützte Effizienz eine freiheitliche Ordnung verträgt, bevor sie ihre eigenen verfassungsrechtlichen Grenzen überschreitet. Continue reading >>
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Harmonizing Corporate Unsustainability
On December 16, 2025, the European Parliament approved the Omnibus I package, a deregulation initiative that amends key EU corporate sustainability instruments, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. While Schönfelder and Streibelt argued that despite the amendments, “the CSDDD remains strong, especially its obligations on human rights and environmental due diligence”, I contend precisely the opposite. Continue reading >>
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Kangaroo Courts and EU Law
In Commission v. Poland, the Court of Justice ruled that Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal no longer qualifies as an independent and impartial tribunal established by law. The ruling decisively addresses the status of the body currently masquerading as Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, although one may question whether the Court did not commit a category error by taking the outputs of such a body seriously. Continue reading >>
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The Monster Screaming the Loudest
In late October 2025, the majority of the Latvian Parliament voted to denounce the Istanbul Convention. This move faced considerable civic protests and was ultimately suspended due to a presidential veto. Nevertheless, what happened in Latvia was not a mere national power play. The withdrawal attempt was a manifestation of a broader challenge posed to Latvia and to Europe in general by disinformation, the growing backsliding threats to constitutional democracies, and by an ancient monster still lurking in the shadows of Europe. Continue reading >>
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06 January 2026
Europe Must Draw the Line
The long-term impact of U.S. intervention in Venezuela will not be decided in Caracas or Washington, but elsewhere. With intervention now framed as a standard policy instrument of the USA, it is the response of other states — including in Europe — that will determine whether the erosion of international law becomes normalised across regions. Continue reading >>Defending Democracy Against Itself
Five years ago today, Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol after his defeat in the 2020 election. Two years ago, in Trump v. Anderson, the U.S. Supreme Court kept Trump on the presidential ballot. What would the world look like if militant democracy had prevailed in the United States? Maybe not so different after all. Democracy is best defended not by banning its opponents, but by renewing popular support through participation, persuasion, and substantive reform. Continue reading >>
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05 January 2026
The Seizure of Maduro as a Repudiation of Legal Constraint
The Trump Administration’s armed attack on Venezuela and seizure of President Maduro does not even purport to serve the values of the international community. Its rhetoric dismisses communal interests and values with performative brazenness. It evokes a pre-Charter world of “spheres of influence,” where regional powers are licensed to pursue their own ends through imposition upon weaker neighbors. Continue reading >>When Context Disappears
In Slagelse Almennyttige Boligselskab, the CJEU addressed whether Denmark’s "social mixing" policy in public housing amounts to ethnic discrimination under EU law. While much commentary has focused on ethnic origin and integration narratives, this contribution shifts attention to housing itself. The Court’s reasoning abstracts away the material realities of eviction and housing commodification, with the consequence that harm is fragmented and housing policies may more readily be framed as legitimate tools of “integration” and “social cohesion,” even where they disproportionately affect minority groups. Continue reading >>
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04 January 2026
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
The Court of Justice’s judgments in W.S. et al and Hamoudi mark an important shift in accountability at Europe’s borders. The Court made clear that Frontex cannot evade judicial responsibility for fundamental rights violations. The rulings lower evidentiary hurdles for victims of deportations and pushbacks and underscore that remedies against EU agencies must work in practice. Taken together, the cases push back against Frontex’s long-standing structural irresponsibility and reaffirm the rule of law in EU asylum governance. Continue reading >>
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03 January 2026
This Is Not Simplification
The European Union’s digital rulebook is increasingly criticized for its complexity, prompting calls for simplification. However, recent proposals like the draft Digital Omnibus regulation are strong on limiting rights but weak on providing clarity. To achieve simplification, we must comprehend and address the root causes of complexity by clarifying rights and obligations, reducing regulatory overlaps, and prioritising long-term coherence over short-term fixes. Continue reading >>
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02 January 2026
When National Courts Say No
On 16 December 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered its judgment in Gondert v. Germany. At the centre of the dispute lies the duty to give reasons. In the triangular relationship between EU law, the ECHR, and national legal orders, the duty to state reasons plays a catalytic role: without adequate reasons, the much-cited “dialogue between courts” cannot operate as genuine dialogue. Gondert improves matters to some extent, but it cannot by itself remedy the deeper structural weaknesses that shape how that dialogue functions. Continue reading >>
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The EU’s 1787 Moment
Recent actions by the United States vis-à-vis Europe, such as the adoption of the National Security Strategy, suggest that the European Union might need to make some quick, existential decisions in the coming years in order to better protect its interests. Europe can look to U.S. history for an example of how to proceed and generate what we might call “a 1787 moment.” Continue reading >>29 December 2025
Die Last der Soldaten
Kurz- bis mittelfristig wird es hierzulande wohl auf eine Wehrpflichtlotterie oder eine Wiedereinsetzung der allgemeinen Wehrpflicht hinauslaufen. Das sollte die gesellschaftliche und akademische Debatte jedoch nicht davon abhalten, grundsätzlicher nach den rechtlichen Logiken, institutionellen Optionen und ihren normativen Begründungen und Implikationen zu fragen. Politischer Pragmatismus und das Denken innerhalb verfassungsrechtlicher Schranken sollten dabei nicht das letzte Wort haben. Continue reading >>24 December 2025
Antisemitism on Trial
Antisemitic incidents in Germany have risen sharply since October 7, 2023, intensifying pressure on courts, public authorities, employers, and universities to determine where democratic contestation ends and unlawful discrimination begins. While many of these incidents never reach legal thresholds, courts are repeatedly called upon to decide whether contested speech, conduct, or affiliation constitutes legally relevant antisemitism. These decisions must be rendered in binary terms—lawful or unlawful, permissible or sanctionable—even when social meaning, political symbolism, and intent remain deeply contested. Continue reading >>Tampering with the ECtHR
On Human Rights Day, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe convened an informal ministerial conference. The reason was that the ECtHR has come under pressure from its member states. Given the ongoing interference with the Court, I propose that the latter should define and apply contempt measures to sanction member states intruding on its independence and impartiality. States that publicly put political pressure on the Court, try to influence its judgments outside of proceedings, misrepresent its case law and role, or disrespect its authority, should face accountability under the ECHR. Continue reading >>23 December 2025
From Security to Economics
Last week, by adopting Regulation 2025/2600, the Council effectively froze Russian state assets permanently. They had already been frozen under the EU sanctions regime which required unanimous renewal every six months. In our view, this permanent freezing under Article 122(1) TFEU remains primarily designed to address matters of foreign policy and violates the conferral of competence. In the long term, given that the frozen assets also serve as a security for the newly agreed loan of EUR 90 billion for Ukraine, this will also jeopardize the enforceability of the said collateral. Continue reading >>
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„Legalistischer Islamismus“
Das Bundesinnenministerium will künftig nicht mehr allein den „gewaltbereiten Islamismus“, sondern auch den sogenannten „legalistischen Islamismus“ bekämpfen, der nach Auffassung des Ministeriums „ebenfalls die Demokratie und den gesellschaftlichen Frieden“ bedrohe. Es solle ein dauerhafter Beraterkreis „Islamismusprävention und Islamismusbekämpfung“ eingerichtet werden, um den im Koalitionsvertrag vereinbarten Bund-Länder-Aktionsplans umzusetzen. Mit dieser begrifflichen Ausweitung betritt das BMI ein rechtsstaatlich problematisches Terrain, in dem sicherheitspolitische Bewertungen Vorrang vor verfassungsrechtlich garantierten Grundrechten und der Rechtsweggarantie erhalten. Continue reading >>Verfassungsrecht nur der Form halber
Das Zitiergebot in Art. 19 Abs. 1 S. 2 GG steht nicht allzu oft im Scheinwerferlicht. Das BVerfG hat dieses Gebot in der Vergangenheit restriktiv – also gesetzgebungsfreundlich – ausgelegt. Der jüngste, auf eine Verfassungsbeschwerde ergangene Beschluss vom 1. Oktober schafft in dem Bestreben um Klarheit neue Unklarheiten. Vielleicht ist es an der Zeit, mit der vom BVerfG ungeliebten Formvorschrift abzurechnen. Weil eine demokratischere, grundrechtsstärkende Auslegung bzw. Erneuerung der Norm unerreichbar scheint, hieße dies (für den verfassungsändernden Gesetzgeber): Abschied nehmen. Continue reading >>Judicial De-Simplification
In early December, the Court of Justice handed down a controversial ruling in Russmedia – indicating that online platforms can no longer confidently rely on EU intermediary liability law for protection against legal responsibility for user content in cases which involve data protection violations. Russmedia significantly weakens the intermediary liability protection – but the extent of the damage to the safe harbour remains unclear. The judgment can be read as having either a broad or narrow application, and the extent of the damage will depend upon how expansively the case is interpreted. And already, different actors are reading the judgment in very different ways. Continue reading >>
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22 December 2025
Bolsonaro’s Quasi-Amnesty
After the Brazilian Supreme Court convicted Bolsonaro and other military figures for their role in the January 2023 coup attempt, many saw this as a positive example for the world. Justice Moraes, the rapporteur and central figure in Bolsonaro’s prosecution, hailed these developments as a “triple victory”: for the judiciary, which “did not yield to threats”; for national sovereignty; and for democracy. Last week, however, Congress approved the so-called Dosimetry Bill, which allows for a significant reduction in sentences for those convicted. In light of the Bill, such declarations of triumph warrant reconsideration. Continue reading >>
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The CJEU Providing Ammo in the ECtHR Rainbow Fight
The issue in Cupriak-Trojan case arose when Poland refused to recognize a same-sex marriage legally concluded in another Member State. The ECtHR had already convicted Poland because same-sex partners cannot formalize their relationship under Polish law. Following these ECtHR convictions, the CJEU ruled that Poland must recognize same-sex marriages concluded in other Member States. This ammunition to enforce ECtHR’s convictions comes in two forms: mobilizing the national judges to recognize foreign same-sex marriages and gently pushing the Polish legislator towards passing the civil partnership bill into legislation. Continue reading >>
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Trojan
On 25 November 2025, ECJ ruled in Trojan that EU Member States may not refuse to recognise a same-sex marriage lawfully concluded in another Member State. Such refusal violates the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States. Unlike earlier judgments, the Trojan ruling marks a significant step towards full recognition of legal status across the EU. Hence, the duty of recognition no longer only refers to the formation of a civil status itself, but now also appears to extend to its legal effects. Continue reading >>
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Scharf, lückenhaft, unterbelichtet
Vor kurzem wurde der Chefredakteur des rechtsextremistischen „Aula“-Magazins in Österreich wegen „Wiederbetätigung im nationalsozialistischen Sinn“ sowie Verharmlosung des Holocaust zu vier Jahren Haft verurteilt. Das Urteil macht sichtbar, dass sich die liberale Demokratie in Österreich auch von ihrer wehrhaften Seite zeigen kann. Angesichts einer Verfassung, die lange Zeit als bloße „Spielregelverfassung“ verstanden wurde, ist die Rede von einer wehrhaften Demokratie in Österreich dabei allerdings keineswegs selbstverständlich. Dabei würde es der Begriff der wehrhaften Demokratie erlauben, diese verstreuten Mechanismen dogmatisch zu bündeln. Continue reading >>When Universities Govern
When UN Special Rapporteurs send an allegation letter to a university, international law is doing something unusual. On 14 October 2025, five mandate-holders addressed such a letter to Columbia University, raising concerns about protest policing, disciplinary sanctions, surveillance, and the treatment of non-citizen students and scholars in connection with Gaza-related expression and assembly. The letter does not resolve disputed facts. Its importance lies elsewhere: it reflects a shift in how international human rights law responds to the privatisation of coercive governance. Continue reading >>
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Europe’s Climate Crisis Is a Rule-of-Law Crisis
After watering down the 2040 emission reduction target, running the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive over by the Omnibus, and now attempting to kill the combustion engine ban, European climate governance has entered the territory of lawlessness. European climate governance is no longer only about the climate. It has become a rule of law issue and should be treated as such. Continue reading >>
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21 December 2025
A General Obligation to Monitor
In Russmedia Digital, the ECJ ruled at the beginning of December that in cases dealing with data protection violations, such as defamatory content, the notice-and-takedown procedure should not be applied, but rather that the respective platform is (jointly) liable for illegal content from the publication of the content on. Clearly unaware of the enormous implications of its decision for the freedom of expression and information of millions of users in the EU, the Court is thus demanding the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring system for communication in the digital public sphere. Continue reading >>
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Patchwork Policing
In November 2025, the federal states of Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia amended their state police laws to enable or expand the use of the US intelligence software Palantir – and thus triggered debate on AI use. Meanwhile, France and Luxembourg prioritise authorising AI-supported video analysis in public spaces. While the regulatory details may differ, the underlying dynamic is the same: legislatures are progressively expanding AI-assisted police powers without a coherent regulatory concept, exposing fundamental rights to uneven and unnecessary risks. Continue reading >>
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20 December 2025
The CJEU Versus the Constitutional Tribunal in Poland
On 18 December 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) handed down a momentous judgment, in which it found that the Constitutional Tribunal (CT) of Poland does not satisfy the requirements of an independent and impartial tribunal established by law. The Court also found that through the decisions of that Tribunal Poland had failed to fulfil its obligations under the Treaty of European Union, as well as under the general principles of autonomy, primacy, effectiveness and the uniform application of EU law. Continue reading >>19 December 2025
Gekommen, um zu bleiben
Heiko Sauer hat dem BVerfG an dieser Stelle unlängst einen „Kurswechsel im Europaverfassungsrecht“ bescheinigt. So verlockend diese Deutung angesichts des Wunsches nach einem harmonischen Gerichtsverbund sein mag: Sie läuft Gefahr, die bloße Abwesenheit offenen Streits mit einer strukturellen Befriedung gleichzusetzen. Ich möchte Sauers These daher ergänzen und zugleich wenden: Nicht die Deflationierung, die der Kontrolle die Wirkungskraft entzieht, ist die Lösung, sondern ihre Institutionalisierung. Continue reading >>18 December 2025
The Sanctioning of Law
Imagine a Western head of government sanctioning the attorney general and judges of the supreme court because they have brought criminal proceedings against his party colleagues. He has their assets seized, their bank accounts frozen, and their freedom of movement restricted. Unimaginable? Unfortunately, no. This is precisely what the Trump administration has now done with the leadership of the Office of the Prosecutor and six judges of the International Criminal Court. Continue reading >>The Limits of Symbolic Regulation
On 5 December, the European Commission issued its first landmark decision under the Digital Services Act (DSA), targeting X’s blue checkmark as allegedly deceptive. The decision, which has attracted international attention, including from US politicians, argues that the design facilitates inauthentic behaviour. This article examines why the focus on the blue checkmark misses the platform’s deeper structural problems, does little to improve trust or safety, and raises broader questions about the EU’s approach to enforcing the DSA. Continue reading >>
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Wenn Persönlichkeitsrechte auf der Strecke bleiben
Das Bundesverfassungsgericht bleibt aktiv in Sachen Pressefreiheit. Ausgangspunkt der jüngsten Entscheidung waren mehrere Beiträge des Nachrichtenmagazins DER SPIEGEL zum Wirecard-Skandal. In einem der Artikel wurde ein ehemaliger Wirecard-Manager namentlich genannt und unverpixelt abgebildet. Nun entschied das BVerfG zugunsten des SPIEGEL und stärkt dadurch mit niedrigeren Hürden für die Verdachtsberichterstattung die Pressefreiheit. Die Kehrseite der Entscheidung ist jedoch: Persönlichkeitsrechte bleiben auf der Strecke. Continue reading >>Judging Independence
On Monday, the European Court of Human Rights held in Danileț v. Romania that judges in principle cannot be disciplined for publicly defending the constitutional order. Coinciding with the early December 2025 reports exposing corruption and sustained pressure on the Romanian judiciary, the Grand Chamber’s judgment could not have arrived at a more timely moment. Danileț is an important moment for Romania’s judiciary and a reminder that courts must be able to speak – and be heard – when democracy and the rule of law are under threat. Continue reading >>17 December 2025
Only Half Thrown Under the Bus
On Tuesday, the European Parliament approved the Omnibus I – a contested package that will lead to significant changes to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and, as a consequence, to the German Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz. We argue that the CSDDD remains strong, especially its obligations on human rights and environmental due diligence. However, the Omnibus missed an opportunity to clarify civil liability and, most critically, significantly restricted the personal scope of the CSDDD. Continue reading >>
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Mehr als Lex NPD
Die Diskussion um ein mögliches AfD-Verbot ist und bleibt virulent. Wieder einmal zeigt sich, dass in der Diskussion kaum Platz für Zwischentöne ist. Bei aller rechtswissenschaftlichen Exegese bleibt so unterbelichtet, dass das Grundgesetz mit der Möglichkeit zum Ausschluss einer Partei von der staatlichen Finanzierung in Art. 21 Abs. 3 GG selbst einen Zwischenton zwischen „weiter so“ und Verbot setzt. Dieser Regelung widmet sich der folgende Beitrag und zeigt dabei auf, dass diese auch gegen eine Partei wie die AfD zur Anwendung kommen könnte. Continue reading >>
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Die Sanktionierung des Rechts
Stellen Sie sich einmal vor, dass ein westlicher Regierungschef den Generalstaatsanwalt und Richter des obersten Gerichts sanktioniert, weil sie Strafverfahren gegen seine Parteifreunde betrieben haben. Er lässt ihr Vermögen beschlagnahmen, Bankkonten einfrieren, die Bewegungsfreiheit einschränken. Unvorstellbar? Leider nein. Denn genau dies hat die Trump-Regierung inzwischen mit der Führungsebene der Anklagebehörde und sechs Richtern des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofs getan. Continue reading >>
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16 December 2025
Eingefroren, aber nutzbar
Die Europäische Union (EU) diskutiert seit Wochen darüber, die Ukraine mit eingefrorenem russischen Zentralbankvermögen zu unterstützen. Im Zentrum steht dabei die Idee eines EU-Reparationsdarlehens, das den eigenen Haushalt entlasten und gleichzeitig eine unliebsame Konfiskation vermeiden soll. Entgegen vorgebrachter Bedenken ist eine völkerrechtskonforme Konstruktion unter reduzierten Haftungsrisiken möglich. Continue reading >>Populism Is Here to Stay
Following the presidential defeat of his preferred candidate in June 2025, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former president of the European Council, recalibrated – or, more precisely, intensified – his strategy of imitating illiberal political forces, to the extent that his political rhetoric could easily be now mistaken for Orbán’s. What are the implications of this troubling development for what is, in fact, at least in the recent European context, a Polish speciality: the process of democratic restoration? Continue reading >>15 December 2025
A Divided Response to Migration
On 10 December, the Council of Europe (CoE) ministers met to discuss proposals that could potentially recalibrate the treatment of migration-related issues under the European Convention on Human Rights. This meeting deliberately shifted a debate that had been unfolding in political arenas for months onto the Council’s formal institutional stage. While the formal conclusions call, in diplomatic terms, for a political declaration to be prepared for adoption in May 2026, a separate joint statement of 27 States Parties reveals a harsher line, illustrating the CoE’s internal divisions. Continue reading >>(K)ein Befreiungsschlag im Besoldungsrecht
Das Bundesverfassungsgericht verschafft sich Luft: Das Land Berlin hat Beamte in über 95 Prozent der geprüften Besoldungsgruppen verfassungswidrig alimentiert. Um der Masse an Klagen noch Herr werden zu können, hat das Gericht mit einer Grundsatzentscheidung seine Prüfungsmaßstäbe erheblich vereinfacht. Doch auch das wird die Klagewelle nicht aufhalten können. Eine umstrittene Besoldungsreform in vielen Ländern zeigt: Die nächste Rüge aus Karlsruhe wird nicht lange auf sich warten lassen. Continue reading >>14 December 2025
Is the European Court of Justice a Protector of the Weak?
Is the European Court of Justice biased toward business interests, or does it protect the weak? Drawing on a novel dataset of nearly 7,000 rulings from 1962 to 2016, this blog post revisits a longstanding debate with systematic evidence. Contrary to persistent critiques, this blog post shows that individuals invoking rights win more often than corporate litigants. Through strategies of “leveling” and “spotlighting,” the ECJ not only counters resource asymmetries in litigation but also publicly amplifies pro-individual rights outcomes. Continue reading >>12 December 2025
The Stakes of “Publicly Accessible”
One of the main goals of the EU’s Digital Services Act is to advance transparency about online platforms. Article 40 seeks to do so by providing researchers with access to data about Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines. This was one of three grounds for its €120 million enforcement against X. This post will examine the legal scope of available data. Continue reading >>
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11 December 2025
The EU’s Chance to Curb Media Capture
On 31 October 2025, the Swiss media group Ringier sold its entire Hungarian media portfolio – including the tabloid Blikk – to Indamedia, an Orbán-government-aligned group that already controls 18 online publications and platforms. For the past fifteen years, the EU seemed largely powerless as the “predator of press freedom”, Viktor Orbán systematically undermined media freedom. Yet the newly adopted European Media Freedom Act could mark a turning point, potentially breaking new constitutional ground for the EU in safeguarding media freedom and pluralism. Continue reading >>
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10 December 2025
Müssen stete Tropfen hier einen Stein höhlen?
K.O.-Tropfen gehören seit Jahren zum Problemfeld schwerer Sexual- und Raubdelikte. Ein neuer Referentenentwurf suggeriert gesetzlichen Nachbesserungsbedarf. Bei näherem Hinsehen zeigt sich jedoch, dass das geltende Recht diese Konstellationen bereits erfasst und hohe Strafen ermöglicht. Die geplante Verschärfung würde daher weniger eine Lücke schließen als den Strafrahmen unnötig verengen und kriminalpolitisch kaum Mehrwert schaffen. Continue reading >>The Ghost of Dublin Still Among Us
On 11 November, the European Commission inaugurated the first Annual Migration Management Cycle, marking one of the first concrete steps toward implementing the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. The Pact promises a renewed balance between solidarity and responsibility, but the details matter. Whereas a final evaluation might be too early at this stage, the Commission’s recent Implementing Decision already raises some concerns. Several implementation choices risk reinforcing existing dynamics of distrust between the Member States that also negatively affect fundamental rights obligations and access to asylum. Continue reading >>
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Wer ist „wir“?
Ist der Ruf nach „ehrlicheren“ Debatten über Migrantenkriminalität angebracht? Tatsächlich ist der derzeitige Diskurs längst geprägt von Innenministern im Klartextmodus, kriminalstatistischen Sonderauswertungen im Monatstakt und Leitmedien, die Probleme benennen und dabei manchmal wie getrieben wirken von der Sorge, bei „Migrationsproblemen“ als zu unkritisch wahrgenommen zu werden. Zwischen Alarmismus und Abwiegeln gibt es zwar Fehlstellen, das Bild einer dominierenden Verharmlosungsneigung hält einer nüchternen Betrachtung aber kaum stand. Continue reading >>09 December 2025
Zwischen Symbol und Status
Nach Monaten verheerender Gewalt im Gazastreifen erkennen nun mehrere westliche Staaten Palästina als Staat an. Die deutsche Bundesregierung spricht sich nach wie vor gegen diesen außenpolitischen Schritt aus. Gerade in Deutschland, wo mit über 200.000 Angehörigen die größte palästinensische Diaspora in Europa lebt, wirft eine mögliche Anerkennung aufenthaltsrechtliche Fragen auf. Dabei wäre die Anerkennung politisch vor allem symbolisch, würde aber nicht die rechtlichen Probleme der palästinensischen Diaspora lösen – sondern diese möglicherweise sogar verschärfen. Continue reading >>08 December 2025
Walking a Tightrope
The EU’s proposed Reparations Loan – using immobilised Russian state assets to finance support for Ukraine – sits on precarious legal and political ground. While the Commission argues the scheme is temporary, reversible, and defensible under international and EU law, critics warn that it risks disguised confiscation, countermeasures, investment claims, and long-term damage to Europe’s financial stability. Belgium’s strong objections highlight the deep uncertainties surrounding a mechanism that touches vital national and Union interests ahead of a decisive European Council meeting. Continue reading >>
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