European Union: Civil Law

Malta's 2026 reforms replace the traditional guardianship framework with a modern system of personal autonomy safeguards and support persons. How does this legislative transformation balance the protection of vulnerable adults with respect for individual autonomy, and what mechanisms ensure that support arrangements remain proportionate to each person's circumstances?

Maltese legal practice employs three distinct instruments—legal letters, judicial letters, and sworn judicial letters under Article 166A—each serving different purposes and producing different legal effects. Understanding when to use each instrument requires careful assessment of the claim's nature, value, and whether formal court proceedings or executive enforcement is necessary. The choice between these tools can determine whether a creditor obtains an executive title without litigation or mus

The actio surrogatoria, codified in Article 1143 of Malta's Civil Code, allows creditors to exercise rights belonging to their debtors when those debtors fail to act. A recent Court of Magistrates judgment examines the essential elements required for this action, including whether the principal debtor must be joined as a party to proceedings, and establishes six key requirements that creditors must satisfy to successfully pursue claims on behalf of their debtors.

The Irish High Court has clarified the extent to which commercial property owners can use force to regain possession of their premises. In a case involving a warehouse sale following loan default and receivership, the court examined whether breaking glass and cutting through steel shutters constituted lawful recovery of property. The decision provides important guidance on the boundaries between legitimate property recovery and unlawful forcible entry.

On 3 July 2026, the Dutch Supreme Court (Hoge Raad) delivered its long-awaited judgment in the joined cases 25/00202and 25/00204, concerning claims brought by Dutch players against Malta-based gaming operators TSG...

Le Tribunal judiciaire de Paris a condamné les producteurs d'une émission télévisée à verser 22.000 euros de dommages-intérêts pour avoir abusivement signalé des vidéos sur YouTube. Cette décision souligne les risques juridiques liés à l'utilisation des procédures de signalement en ligne lorsque les droits invoqués ne sont pas suffisamment établis.

The recent amendment to the Act on the State Labour Inspectorate marks a notable shift in how labour law in Poland is enforced, particularly in relation to flexible forms of engagement. It strengthens the position of the State Labour Inspectorate and reflects a broader regulatory trend toward closer scrutiny of non-employment arrangements.

In April of 2010, Mr. Roland Darmanin Kissaun (the “Plaintiff”) was approached by a certain Thomas Knott, who was acting as the agent for Turkish shipbuilder MTH Yatcilik Sanayi Ve Ticaret...

La Legge n. 181 del 2025 ha introdotto per la prima volta nel codice penale italiano il reato specifico di femminicidio, punibile con l'ergastolo. Questo articolo esamina la definizione giuridica del termine...