European Union: Government, Public Sector

The European Commission has authorized EUR 400 million in German State aid to Sanofi to secure insulin supply within the EEA, marking a significant development in European pharmaceutical policy.

The EU continues its ambitious reform agenda for life sciences regulation, with landmark agreements on pharmaceutical legislation and biotech innovation frameworks. Ireland's Council Presidency is set to drive progress on critical medicines legislation and medical device reforms, while new investment initiatives aim to mobilize billions into Europe's biotech sector.

Il dibattito sulla tassazione dei patrimoni è tornato al centro della scena politica italiana, dividendo l'opinione pubblica tra chi la considera uno strumento di redistribuzione della ricchezza e chi la ritiene un onere incompatibile con la crescita economica. La presente analisi esamina l'approccio di Italia e Svizzera alla tassazione patrimoniale, approfondendo le prospettive divergenti e le realtà fiscali di entrambi i Paesi.

French authorities have charged five individuals with fundraising for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, following an investigation that began in April. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office is seeking pre-trial detention for two of the suspects as the case moves forward.

Sweden has modernized its defense materiel regulations following NATO membership, introducing significant changes to export controls, manufacturing permits, and security protocols. The reforms balance streamlined processes for defense industry cooperation with strengthened oversight mechanisms, particularly affecting main contractors' responsibilities and technology secrecy provisions.

Sweden has adopted its first national strategy for supply preparedness, establishing three overarching goals and 19 priority measures to ensure the flow of critical goods and services during crises. The strategy emphasizes the central role of private sector collaboration with public authorities, particularly through procurement processes and continuity planning for companies operating critical infrastructure.

France is tightening its foreign investment screening regime as the 2027 presidential election approaches, with parliamentary proposals seeking to expand oversight powers and broaden the scope of strategic sectors subject to review. The shift reflects a cross-party consensus on protecting national interests amid rising geopolitical tensions and follows new EU regulations requiring mandatory screening mechanisms across all member states.

France's updated military programming law adds €36 billion to defence spending through 2030, creating significant investment opportunities in munitions, drones, space, AI, and electronic warfare systems. However, US and non-EU investors face complex regulatory hurdles including French foreign investment screening, European eligibility requirements, export controls, and ITAR-free design mandates that fundamentally reshape how transatlantic defence investments must be structured.

A first draft of a German Investment Screening Act (Investitionsprüfungsgesetz, IPG) was circulated in early October 2026. The text is a so-called Referentenentwurf – a working draft prepared by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).

The Court of Justice of the European Union has issued a landmark ruling on whether political parties can use reputable trademarks for parody or campaigning purposes under EU trademark law. The case examines a Belgian political party's IKEA-themed immigration campaign and establishes new criteria for balancing trademark rights against freedom of expression. National courts must now weigh multiple factors including intent, contribution to public debate, and potential brand damage when assessing such uses.

Arthur Cox's pro bono programme partners with leading Irish charities including Barretstown, Friends of the Elderly, and the Marie Keating Foundation, while advancing critical justice initiatives from death penalty advocacy to transgender rights. Through strategic partnerships with organizations like FLAC, TENI, and the Irish Refugee Council, the firm's lawyers have contributed over 11,000 hours supporting vulnerable communities, securing international protection for refugees, and removing barriers that pre

El Tribunal Supremo analiza la validez de las comunicaciones telefónicas documentadas mediante diligencias de constancia en procedimientos civiles, estableciendo criterios sobre...