EU Court

The European Union has removed or reassessed sanctions on Russian billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov, and political commentator Max Katz explains the reasoning in a widely viewed video with English subtitles. The move stems from EU court challenges, where judges found the evidence justifying sanctions on some Russian oligarchs insufficient. The decision is drawing criticism amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

An adviser to the EU's Court of Justice says European data protection rules may give people the right to have their baptismal records erased. The opinion suggests Catholic Church registers fall within the scope of the GDPR, prompting debate over religious freedom, church autonomy and individuals' control over personal data held by religious institutions.

A student has defeated Belgium's restriction on access to medical school studies in a European Union court ruling. Belgium has long capped the number of students allowed to enter medical programmes, a policy contested by prospective doctors. The decision challenges how the country organises entry to medical education and could force changes to the system.

The European Commission has published its October infringements package, with key decisions focused on energy. The package outlines which EU member states are being referred to court or warned for failing to comply with energy-related obligations. Such monthly announcements typically cover delays in implementing EU energy and climate legislation, and often prompt responses from the governments concerned.