Alleged sexual harassment by European judges
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In this edition:
Sexual harassment allegations at Court of Justice of the EU
A judge at the EU’s second highest court, the General Court, has been accused of sexually harassing young female participants at one of Europe’s most prestigious moot court competitions, the European Law Moot Court, over several years. We spoke with several participants, who say that he was making inappropriate comments, asking young women for their numbers, and touching them – with the women saying they felt intimidated by him because of his position at the court.
“You don't want to antagonise him,” one of them told us.
But he’s not the only one. We tracked down two other cases in which judges were accused of mistreating other employees of the court. Both former and current staff members told us that they’re horrified by the allegations, and frustrated that the court seems to, they say, be sweeping such issues under the rug instead of addressing it head on.
“It shocks you at the beginning,” one current employee, who has worked at the court for decades, told us. “Every judge is there because they’re appointed by their member state, and then they try to stay as long as possible. Whenever a peer is judged, I think the first thing on their mind is: ‘this could be me’.”
So instead of making sure judges faced appropriate consequences if the allegations were found to be true, the court kept it quiet. “This pisses you off,” the person said.
And things are unlikely to change any time soon: the court managed to wiggle its way out of falling under the EU’s new Ethics Body, which is set up to scrutinise the ethical standards of the bloc’s institutions.
Read the full story here .
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Lise Witteman
Helping the poor, but only if it serves our own interests
Our recent piece shows that the EU is increasingly using development aid money for projects that explicitly advance its own political objectives, such as energy transition and reducing migration. This focus on self-interest comes at the expense of those who need development aid the most: the people in the world's poorest countries.
“Classic EU,” British researcher Patrick Holden concluded. “This way, the EU maintains the image and kudos of a do-gooder, while at the same time pursuing its own goals.”
Emma Du Chatinier
Chopping up lab-grown meat
Lab-grown meat has become the latest target for agricultural companies defending their own interests in Brussels. Powerful farmers associations such as Italy’s Coldiretti have been heavily campaigning against what they call 'Frankenstein meat'. With success in their home country: Italy banned the product in 2023.
Now they have Brussels in their crosshairs. And this year, the Italian campaign penetrated the highest levels of European politics. Now they have a powerful new ally: Hungary, which as of 1 July holds the EU presidency.
French and Dutch companies meanwhile are striving to get cultured meat on the market as soon as possible. Their promise: millions of kilograms of meat that is genetically indistinguishable from a steak in a restaurant can be developed from a single beef cattle.
Read here how the farmers associations’ campaign, in which they often bend the truth, managed to gain traction in Brussels.
Alistair Keepe & Jesse Pinster
Italian official should be allowed to join EU prosecutor service, court rules
The EU General Court annulled a decision by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) to reject Carmela Giuffrida, an official at the Italian anti-corruption service, to join the EPPO’s ranks. Italy’s Superior Council of Magistracy had designated Giuffrida in March 2022. But following an interview, her candidacy was rejected because she had insufficient experience in investigating crimes against the EU’s financial interests. In one of the first rulings about the EPPO – which has only been operational since mid-2021 – the judges agreed with Giuffrida’s argument that the EPPO decision rejecting her candidacy had been insufficiently motivated.
Simon Van Dorpe