The European Publishers Council (EPC) welcomes the European Commission’s decision to open formal antitrust investigations against Apple who, through abuse of dominance, are undermining the ability of news and magazine publishers to have direct commercial relationships with their readers or to offer iOS-device users alternative cheaper purchasing possibilities outside of apps. The case will assess…
The Council today decided to renew the sanctions introduced in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation until 23 June 2021. The restrictive measures currently in place include prohibitions targeting the imports of products originating in Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU, and infrastructural or financial investments and tourism services in Crimea or Sevastopol. Furthermore, the exports of certain…
Charges brought by Polish authorities against two activists who face possible prison sentences of up to 10 years for a poster campaign should be immediately dropped said Amnesty International (AI). The activists were detained and charged last week, after they put up posters in Warsaw accusing the government of manipulating COVID-19 statistics. They were charged with…
In a European Parliament debate on Hungary’s coronavirus emergency measures, most MEPs said democracy and fundamental rights are under threat in Hungary. The majority of speakers on 14 May stressed that the Hungarian government’s measures, including the declaration of a state of emergency without a time limit, are not in line with EU rules, calling…
By Willy Fautré Twenty-five years after the end of Croatia’s war for independence from Serbia, thousands of Serbs are still fighting for their property rights in that Western Balkan country which became a member state of the European Union (EU) in 2013 and is now chairing the EU. Dalibor Močević, a Croatian citizen of Serbian…
I met with Philippe Bresson to explore his experience of investing in Eastern Europe. Philippe manages the BEE Family Office, formerly BRICOSTORE Holding, a 160-year-old family-owned holding company that manages a variety of assets and holdings in various business sectors. It was originally focused on the retail sector in France and internationally. In the late…
This article first appeared in the online journal of the IGTDS, the Institute for Global Threats and Democracies Studies, and is reproduced here with their permission. Russia keeps practicing political terrorism by murdering foreign political figures and Russian citizens with the help of poison. The situation in the Czech Republic indicates that the motives for…
On Monday, counsel for WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange will applyfor his main extradition hearing to be delayed. The hearing, whichopened for a week of legal argument at the end of February, iscurrently scheduled to resume on 18 May at Woolwich Crown Court. Julian Assange has been charged in the Eastern District of Virginiawith 17 counts…
A new survey finds 50% of Hungarians think democracy and press freedom has worsened in the last 10 years Conducted by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and Policy Solutions it revealed that 50% of Hungarians think that democracy and freedom of the press have worsened under Viktor Orban’s rule. Only 16% and 17% of respondents respectively said the situation…
One year ahead of the 75th anniversary of the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague, Dutch harpist Lavinia Meijer has initiated a musical Instagram journey entitled #unitedmusic75. The project is supported by the United Nations Regional Information Centre and the International Court of Justice. The one-year challenge is a call for action to show solidarity and highlight the convening power of music for a common cause, peace through justice. During the #unitedmusic75 challenge an…
