Review of the EU legislation for 13/03/2026

Review of Legal Acts

Directive 2011/83/EU on Consumer Rights

This directive harmonizes various aspects of consumer protection within the EU, aiming to achieve a genuine single market for consumers. It covers distance contracts (online, phone) and off-premises contracts (e.g., door-to-door sales). Key provisions include:

Right of Withdrawal: Consumers have a 14-day cooling-off period to withdraw from a contract without giving any reason.

Information Requirements: Traders must provide clear and comprehensive information to consumers before they are bound by a contract, including the total price, delivery costs, and the trader’s identity.

Refunds: Traders must reimburse consumers within 14 days of withdrawal, including delivery costs.

Digital Content: Specific rules apply to the supply of digital content, ensuring consumers are informed about compatibility, functionality, and security features.

Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR)

GDPR establishes a comprehensive framework for the protection of personal data within the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA). It applies to organizations operating within the EU, as well as those outside the EU that process the personal data of EU residents. Key elements include:

Data Protection Principles: Personal data must be processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently. It should be collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes and be adequate, relevant, and limited to what is necessary.

Rights of Data Subjects: Individuals have rights such as the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, and data portability.

Data Controller and Processor Obligations: Data controllers are responsible for implementing appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure data security and must notify data breaches to supervisory authorities. Data processors must act on the instructions of the controller and implement appropriate security measures.

Data Protection Officer (DPO): Certain organizations must appoint a DPO to oversee data protection compliance.

International Data Transfers: Restrictions apply to the transfer of personal data to countries outside the EEA unless adequate safeguards are in place.

Directive 2005/29/EC on Unfair Commercial Practices

This directive aims to protect consumers from unfair commercial practices by businesses. It establishes a general prohibition of unfair commercial practices and defines specific types of practices that are considered unfair.

General Prohibition: Commercial practices are unfair if they are contrary to the requirements of professional diligence and materially distort the economic behavior of the average consumer.

Misleading Practices: Practices that contain false information or deceive the average consumer, even if the information is factually correct, are prohibited.

Aggressive Practices: Practices that use harassment, coercion, or undue influence to impair the consumer’s freedom of choice are banned.

Black List:

Review of each of legal acts published today:

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/556 of 6 March 2026 on the registration of the geographical indication Kilichi du Niger (PGI) in the Union register of geographical indications pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/545 of 5 March 2026 on the registration of the geographical indication Adana Şalgamı (PGI) in the Union register of geographical indications pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/528 of 11 March 2026 concerning the authorisation of patchouli essential oil from Pogostemon cablin Benth. as a feed additive for all animal species

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/538 of 11 March 2026 concerning the authorisation of xanthan gum produced with Xanthomonas campestris ATCC SD 7012 or DSM 23730 or CNCM I-4861 or CIP 74.23 as a feed additive for all animal species other than cats, dogs and aquatic species

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/525 of 11 March 2026 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2834 as regards fixing representative prices in the poultrymeat and egg sectors and for egg albumin

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/534 of 11 March 2026 concerning the authorisation of a preparation of Duddingtonia flagrans NCIMB 30336 as a feed additive for grazing animals of bovine, ovine and caprine species other than for milk production, and for grazing animals of camelids, cervids, equines, porcine species and rabbits (holder of authorisation: International Animal Health Products Pty Ltd, represented in the Union by SynTech Regulatory Europe GmbH)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/540 of 11 March 2026 concerning the authorisation of acacia gum as a feed additive for all animal species

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/524 of 11 March 2026 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2834 as regards fixing representative prices in the poultrymeat and egg sectors and for egg albumin and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1988 as regards the administration of import tariff quotas in accordance with the first come, first served principle, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1484/95

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/532 of 11 March 2026 concerning the renewal of the authorisation and the authorisation of new uses of a preparation of monensin sodium (Coxidin) as a feed additive for chickens for fattening, chickens reared for laying, turkeys for fattening and turkeys reared for reproduction (holder of authorisation: Huvepharma N.V.) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 109/2007 and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 140/2012

Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 12 March 2026.BC, légalement représenté par sa représentante légale v LG.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Area of Freedom, Security and Justice – Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Regulation (EC) No 4/2009 – Jurisdiction in matters relating to maintenance obligations – Article 12 – Lis pendens – Determination of the court first seised – Article 9(a) – Concept of an ‘equivalent document’ with regard to a document instituting the proceedings – Submission of an application for legal aid before a court of a Member State by a maintenance creditor with a view to bringing an action for the variation of maintenance obligations owed to him or her – Subsequent application submitted by the maintenance debtor to vary his or her maintenance obligations before a court of another Member State – Subsequent action by the maintenance creditor before the first court after that court has granted legal aid – Classification of that application for legal aid as an ‘equivalent document’ – Conditions.Case C-516/24.

Judgment of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 12 March 2026.DK and JO v État belge.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Freedom of movement for workers – Income tax – Tax supplement on the income tax of natural persons which may be established by the municipalities or agglomerations in which those persons reside – Surcharge on income tax borne by non-residents for tax purposes paid to the State – Fiscal burden on non-residents for tax purposes that is heavier than that borne by tax residents of a Member State – Comparable situations – No justification.Case C-119/24.

Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 12 March 2026.SBK Art Limited Liability Company v Fortenova Group STAK Stichting and Open Pass Limited.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine – Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 – Concept of ‘freezing of funds’ – Article 1(f) – Exercise by a person subject to restrictive measures of the rights, attached to depositary receipts, to attend, and vote in, a meeting of holders of such instruments.Case C-465/24.

Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 12 March 2026.Minister for Justice v I.T.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Citizenship of the Union – Right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States – Directive 2004/38/EC – Article 7(3)(b) – Derived right of residence – Third-country national divorced from a Union citizen who was no longer a worker or self-employed person at the time of initiation of the divorce proceedings – Meaning of ‘duly recorded involuntary unemployment after having been employed for more than one year’ – Single continuous period of one year – Person having received social welfare – Proof – Applicant’s right of access to the social welfare file of his former spouse – Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – Principle of good administration and right to an effective judicial remedy.Case C-477/24.

Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 12 March 2026.Kingdom of Spain v Council of the European Union and Représentant spécial de l’Union européenne en Bosnie-Herzégovine.Appeal – Staff coming under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) – International contract staff member hired by the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Successive fixed-term employment contracts – Termination of the employment contract following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union – Appeal brought by a Member State which did not intervene in the proceedings before the General Court – Third paragraph of Article 56 of the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union – Admissibility of the appeal – Concept of ‘disputes between the Union and its servants’ – Cross-appeal – Admissibility.Case C-728/23 P.

Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 12 March 2026.BX v État belge.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Article 45 TFEU – Freedom of movement for workers – Income tax – Employment income received in another Member State – Exemption with progression in the Member State of residence – Failure to apply a bilateral convention for the avoidance of double taxation by a contracting State – Loss of part of the tax advantages relating to the personal and family circumstances of the taxpayer.Case C-150/25.

Judgment of the Court (Ninth Chamber) of 12 March 2026.Aptiv Services Hungary Kft. v Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal Fellebbviteli Igazgatósága.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Taxation – Common system of value added tax (VAT) – Directive 2006/112/EC – Intra-Community acquisition of goods – Article 168 – Deduction of input VAT due in respect of such an acquisition – Articles 178 and 179 – Rules governing the exercise of the right to deduct VAT – Late submission of invoices necessary for the exercise of the right to deduct VAT – Refusal of the right to deduct VAT – National legislation providing for a self-correction procedure enabling the taxable person to exercise his or her right of deduction beyond the tax period during which that right arose – Principles of neutrality, proportionality and effectiveness.Case C-521/24.

Judgment of the Court (Seventh Chamber) of 12 March 2026.Randstad España SLU v Administración General del Estado.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Taxation – Common system of value added tax (VAT) – Deduction of input VAT – Directive 2006/112/EC – Second paragraph of Article 176 – Exclusion from the right to deduct VAT – Acquisition of tickets for leisure events and services – Entry into force of the right to deduct VAT on the date of accession of the Kingdom of Spain to the European Economic Community – Standstill clause.Case C-515/24.

Judgment of the Court (Ninth Chamber) of 12 March 2026.Harry et Associés Sarl v Agenzia delle entrate – Riscossione – Pescara and Agenzia delle entrate – Centro operativo di Pescara.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Taxation – Common system of value added tax (VAT) – Directive 2006/112/EC – Refund of VAT – Directive 2008/9/EC – Articles 2, 15 and 23 – Principles of VAT neutrality, effectiveness and proportionality – Taxable person established in a Member State other than the Member State of VAT refund – Application for VAT refund – Technical fault in the electronic transmission of the application – Failure to act on the part of the tax authorities of the Member State of refund to which the application was made – Final judicial decision – Res judicata.Case C-527/24.

Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 12 March 2026.VP v European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training.Appeal – Civil service – Member of the temporary staff – Article 266 TFEU – Decision adopted in compliance with a judgment of the General Court of the European Union annulling a decision not to renew a contract for an indefinite period and ordering compensation for the damage caused – Action for annulment and claim for compensation – Distortion of evidence in the file – Article 151(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice – Request that a document be removed from the case file – Confidentiality of communications between lawyers – Scope.Case C-209/24 P.

Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 12 March 2026.Magyar Telekom Nyrt. v Nemzeti Média- és Hírközlési Hatóság Elnöke.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Approximation of laws – Telecommunications sector – Directive (EU) 2018/1972 – European Electronic Communications Code – First subparagraph of Article 105(4) – Right of end-users to terminate their contact without further costs due to modifications unilaterally proposed by a provider of electronic communication services – Exceptions – Modifications directly imposed by EU law or national law.Case C-514/24.

Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 12 March 2026.UAB „EM SYSTEM“ v AB SEB bankas and AS „Citadele banka“ Lietuvos filialas.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Common foreign and security policy – Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 – Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus – Article 2(1) – Annex I – List of persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures – Inclusion of the name of the shareholder of a company on that list – 50% stake in the capital of that company held by that shareholder – Freezing of the funds of the company, which is not included on the list – Control by a person or entity included on the list of a legal person not included on the list – Criteria for assessment – Right to effective judicial protection – Rights of the defence.Case C-84/24.

Judgment of the Court (Tenth Chamber) of 12 March 2026.C.M. v Ministero dell’Istruzione e del Merito.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Social policy – Equal treatment in employment and occupation – Directive 2000/78/EC – Prohibition of discrimination on the ground of disability – Article 2(2) – Right of a teacher with a disability to be transferred to a particular territorial area – Article 5 – Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities – Priority for mobility within a territorial area as compared to mobility between different territorial areas.Case C-597/24.

Arrêt de la Cour (neuvième chambre) du 12 mars 2026.#Federazione Italiana delle Banche di Credito Cooperativo e Casse Rurali (Federcasse) e.a. contre Commission européenne.#Pourvoi – Politique économique et monétaire – Activités des établissements de crédit – Systèmes de garantie des dépôts (SGD) – Directive 2014/49/UE – Article 10, paragraphe 6 – Réduction du niveau cible des contributions à un SGD – Conditions – Demande d’autorisation de réduction du niveau cible d’un SGD – Lettre de la commissaire européenne chargée des services financiers, de la stabilité financière et de l’union des marchés de capitaux indiquant que les conditions ne sont pas réunies – Notion d’“acte attaquable” – Recours en annulation.#Affaire C-863/24 P.

Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 12 March 2026.K. M. H. v Obshtina Stara Zagora.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Citizenship of the Union – Article 21(1) TFEU – Right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States – Impediments – Request to amend gender data in the civil status registers – Directive 2004/38/EC – Article 4(3) – Article 7 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – Right to respect for private and family life – Obligation, for a court of a Member State, to comply with the case-law of the constitutional court of that State – Interpretation in conformity with EU law.Case C-43/24.

EFTA Surveillance Authority communication pursuant to Article 17(5) of Regulation 1008/2008 of the European parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community – Invitation to tender in respect of the operation of scheduled air services in accordance with public service obligations

State aid – Decision to raise no objections

Judgment of the Court of 28 November 2025 in Case E-8/25 – Aréas Dommages v Gable Insurance AG in Konkurs (Directive 2009/138/EC (Solvency II) – Article 268(1)(g) – Article 275(1) – Insurance claims – Privileged status – Statutory subrogation – National insolvency proceedings)

State aid – Decision to raise no objections

Request for an Advisory Opinion from the EFTA Court by Reykjavik District Court dated 4 November 2025 in the case of AE and YM v The Icelandic State and Registers Iceland (Case E-25/25)

State aid – Decision to raise no objections

Decision of the Standing Committee of the EFTA States No. 5/2025/SC of 23 October 2025 on the resetting of the systemic risk buffer pursuant to Article 133 and the Norwegian notification of the setting of an O-SII buffer pursuant to Article 131 of Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions, as incorporated into the EEA Agreement by Joint Committee Decision No 79/2019 and later amendments [2026/555]