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Council of the European Union     2/10/2018  Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the situation in Nicaragua Five months after the outbreak of social protests in Nicaragua, the situation in the country remains of serious concern to the European Union and its Member States. Basic principles of democracy, accountability and rule of law continue to be severely undermined by the authorities' repression, which creates a climate of fear and mistrust. The national dialogue with the aim of reaching political solutions to these problems is now stalled. The lack of official cooperation with the international missions investigating human rights abuses prevents full accountability and justice to be served and encourages impunity. To this end and in line with previous statements, the European Union and its Member States urge the government of Nicaragua to allow the return of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) and enable it to continue its mission in the country as well as to provide the necessary support requested by the Follow-Up Mechanism on Nicaragua (MESENI) and the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) to carry out their mandate. We call on the government of Nicaragua to stop the disproportionate use of force against demonstrators, halt arrests based on laws which criminalize peaceful protest, free peaceful demonstrators and re-establish the full respect of due process for all detainees. We also call on the government of Nicaragua to act on the findings and recommendations by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) and UNOHCHR, in particular to ensure full accountability for perpetrators of human rights' abuses and the disarming and disbanding of armed groups. The European Union and its Member States continue to support an inclusive dialogue on justice and democracy as the way out of the current crisis and reiterate their willingness to contribute to this process as a means to deliver on the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Nicaraguan people. To this end we renew our call on the government of Nicaragua to resume the national dialogue and stand ready to further support this process. Council of the European Union     2/10/2018  VAT fraud: Council agrees to allow generalised, temporary reversal of liability On 2 October, the Council agreed a proposal that will allow temporary derogations from normal VAT rules in order to better prevent VAT fraud. The proposed directive will allow member states that are most severely affected by VAT fraud to temporarily apply a generalised reversal of VAT liability. This so-called generalised ‘reverse charge’ mechanism involves shifting liability for VAT payments from the supplier to the customer. The Commission issued the proposal in December 2016 at the request of member states particularly affected by VAT fraud. "This directive will provide a solution for member states that face endemic carousel fraud", said Hartwig Löger, minister for finance of Austria, which currently holds the Council presidency. "It is an exceptional measure, limited in time, that could prove to be an efficient way to fight VAT fraud." Member states will be able to use the generalised reverse charge mechanism (GRCM), only for domestic supplies of goods and services above a threshold of €17 500 per transaction, only up until 30 June 2022, and under very strict technical conditions. In particular, in a member state that wishes to apply such measure, 25% of the VAT gap has to be due to carousel fraud. Among other requirements, this member state will have to establish appropriate and effective electronic reporting obligations on all taxable persons, in particular those to which the mechanism would apply. The generalised reverse charge mechanism may only be used by a member state once it meets the eligibility criteria and its request has been authorised by the Council. The application of this measure is also subject to strict EU safeguards. Council of the European Union     2/10/2018 VAT: Council agrees short-term fixes, pending overhaul On 2 October 2018, the Council agreed on four adjustments to the EU's current VAT rules to fix specific issues. Pending introduction of the new VAT system, four short-term 'quick fixes' will be made regarding the VAT aspects of trade between the member states. Discussions are ongoing on a definitive VAT system to replace the current 'transitional' VAT arrangements, which have been applied since 1993. "This package of proposals is aimed at fixing some of the practical problems we are experiencing with the current VAT rules”, said Hartwig Löger, minister for finance of Austria, which currently holds the Council presidency. “At the same time, it is of high practical relevance for our businesses who will benefit from the harmonised rules." Council of the European Union     2/10/2018  Electronic publications: Council agrees to allow reduced VAT rates On 2 October 2018, the Council agreed a proposal allowing member states to apply reduced, super-reduced or zero VAT rates to electronic publications, thereby allowing alignment of VAT rules for electronic and physical publications.

CCBE-Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, Info

CCBEInfo   # 75  September 2018/septembre 2018

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In this Issue    The CCBE Standing Committee: Director-General Tiina Astola’s speech on EU lawyers’ issues Winners of the first ERA-CCBE Young Lawyers Contest Publication of the CCBE-CEPEJ Guide to Mediation for Lawyers The Czech Brussels Office celebrates its 10th anniversary The Lithuanian Bar Council appoints its new delegation to the CCBE Training Lawyers on Asylum and Immigration Law Human rights – The Dark side of the moon: The normalization of the state of emergency and the situation of the judiciary in Turkey The Rule of Law in Venezuela Dans ce numéro   Discours de la directrice générale Tiina Astola sur les questions liées aux avocats de l’UE lors du comité permanent du CCBE Lauréats du premier Concours des jeunes avocats ERA-CCBE Publication du « Guide de médiation pour les avocats » du CCBE et de la CEPEJ La présence du barreau tchèque à Bruxelles fête ses dix ans Le barreau lituanien désigne sa nouvelle délégation auprès du CCBE Formation des avocats en droit d’asile et de l’immigration Droits de l’homme – Le côté sombre de la lune : La normalisation de l'état d'urgence et de la situation du pouvoir judiciaire en Turquie L’état de droit au Venezuela

The CCBE Standing Committee: Director-General Tiina Astola’s speech on EU lawyers’ issues   On 14 September, the CCBE held its Standing Committee in Brussels, where members discussed issues relevant to EU lawyers and Bars. The CCBE gave a warm welcome to a very special guest: Tiina Astola, Director-General for Justice and Consumers, who delivered a powerful speech on the European Commission’s relationship with Bars and lawyers in the EU.   Read more Discours de la directrice générale Tiina Astola sur les questions liées aux avocats de l’UE lors du comité permanent du CCBE   Le 14 septembre a eu lieu le comité permanent du CCBE à Bruxelles. Les membres ont discuté de questions relatives aux avocats et aux barreaux de l’UE. Le CCBE a accueilli chaleureusement une invitée de marque : Tiina Astola, directrice générale de la justice et des consommateurs, qui a prononcé un discours fort sur les relations de la Commission européenne avec les barreaux et les avocats de l’UE.   Lire la suite

Winners of the first ERA-CCBE Young Lawyers Contest   On 6-7 September 2018, the first ERA-CCBE Young Lawyers Contest took place in Trier, Germany. Twenty contestants from ten nationalities nominated by their local or national Bars took part in the contest.   Read more Lauréats du premier Concours des jeunes avocats ERA-CCBE   Les 6 et 7 septembre 2018, le premier Concours des jeunes avocats ERA-CCBE a eu lieu à Trèves, en Allemagne. Vingt candidats de dix nationalités, désignés par leur barreau local ou national, ont participé au concours.   Lire la suite

Publication of the CCBE-CEPEJ Guide to Mediation for Lawyers   The CCBE is proud to announce the publication of the Guide to Mediation for Lawyers which is the product of extensive cooperation with the Working Group on Mediation of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) to promote a better implementation of mediation in Member States of the Council of Europe   Read more Publication du « Guide de médiation pour les avocats » du CCBE et de la CEPEJ   Le CCBE a le plaisir d’annoncer la publication du Guide de médiation pour les avocats qui est le fruit d’une coopération étendue avec le groupe de travail sur la médiation de la Commission européenne pour l’efficacité de la justice (CEPEJ) dans le cadre de la promotion de la médiation dans les États membres du Conseil de l'Europe.   Lire la suite

The Czech Brussels Office celebrates its 10th anniversary   The Czech delegation to the CCBE is comprised of Stanislav Balík, Head of the Delegation, Vladimír Jirousek, President of the Czech Bar Association (CBA), Eva Indruchová, Head of the International Department of the CBA and Head of its Brussels Office, Petr Čáp, Chair of the Disciplinary Commission of the CBA and Jiří Novák, member of the Disciplinary Commission of the CBA.   Read more La présence du barreau tchèque à Bruxelles fête ses dix ans   La délégation tchèque du CCBE est composée de Stanislav Balík, chef de la délégation, Vladimír Jirousek, président du barreau tchèque, Eva Indruchová, à la tête des affaires internationales du barreau tchèque et de ses bureaux à Bruxelles, Petr Čáp, président de la commission disciplinaire du barreau tchèque et Jiří Novák, membre de la commission disciplinaire.   Lire la suite

The Lithuanian Bar Council appoints its new delegation to the CCBE   On 27 August, the Lithuanian Bar Council adopted its decision concerning the Lithuanian delegation to the CCBE.   Read more Le barreau lituanien désigne sa nouvelle délégation auprès du CCBE   Le 27 août, le barreau lituanien a adopté sa décision concernant la délégation lituanienne au CCBE.   Lire la suite

Training Lawyers on Asylum and Immigration Law   Building on the successful results of the project “Training of Lawyers on EU Asylum and Immigration Law” (TRALIM) of the European Lawyers Foundation (ELF), TRALIM 2 is a continuation of the efforts of lawyers to respond in a timely fashion to the growing need for legal training in the field of immigration and asylum in the EU.   Read more Formation des avocats en droit d'asile et de l’immigration   S’appuyant sur les résultats positifs du projet de « Formation des avocats en droit d’asile et de l’immigration » (TRALIM) de la Fondation des avocats européens, TRALIM 2 s’inscrit dans le prolongement des efforts déployés par les avocats pour répondre rapidement au besoin croissant de formation juridique en matière d’immigration et d’asile dans l’UE.   Lire la suite

Human rights – The Dark side of the moon: The normalisation of the state of emergency and the situation of the judiciary in Turkey   7 – 9 September 2018 - Istanbul Following the call of the main Turkish Bar Associations and numerous European lawyers' organisations (including the CCBE, the UIA, the FBE, the ELHD the AED, the IBAHRI), several hundred lawyers attended a conference in Istanbul, from 7 to 9 September 2018, concerning the normalisation of the state of emergency in Turkey.   Read more Droits de l’homme – Le côté sombre de la lune : La normalisation de l'état d'urgence et de la situation du pouvoir judiciaire en Turquie   Du 7 au 9 septembre 2018 à Istanbul À l’appel des principaux barreaux turcs et de nombreuses organisations d’avocats européens (dont le CCBE, l’UIA, la FBE, l’ELHD, l’AED, l’IBAHRI), plusieurs centaines d’avocats ont participé, du 7 au 9 septembre 2018 à une conférence organisée à Istanbul sur le thème de la normalisation de l’état d’urgence en Turquie.   Lire la suite

The Rule of Law in Venezuela   The European Lawyers Foundation (ELF) implemented a second project on Venezuela from October 2017 to September 2018. The aim of the project was to make proposals concerning justice reform to re-establish the Rule of Law in Venezuela   Read more L’état de droit au Venezuela   La Fondation des avocats européens a mis en œuvre un deuxième projet concernant le Venezuela entre octobre 2017 et septembre 2018. Le projet visait à exprimer des propositions concernant la réforme de la justice pour pouvoir rétablir l’état de droit au Venezuela.   Lire la suite

Upcoming Events | Événements à venir

12/10/2018 - Conference on the liability of elected officials and their co-workers, comparative law – Brussels | Colloque sur la responsabilité des élus et collaborateurs, droit comparé à Bruxelles | b.cambier@cambieravocats.be 19/10/2018 - Standing Committee – Brussels | Comité permanent à Bruxelles 25/10/2018 - European Lawyers Day | Journée européenne des avocats 28-29/10/2018 - L5 Meeting – Porto | Réunion L5 à Porto 29/11/2018 - CCBE Plenary Session – Lille | Session plénière du CCBE à Lille 30/11/2018 - CCBE Conference: Artificial Intelligence - Humane Justice – Lille | Colloque du CCBE : Intelligence artificielle - justice humaine à Lille

Other languages will be available on the website over the next few days. Les autres langues seront disponibles sur le site web dans les prochains jours.

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