Europe: Criminal Law

Italian law on sexual assault in Italy is primarily governed by Article 609-bis of the Italian Penal Code, which defines sexual violence as any sexual act carried out without the free and explicit consent of the victim, through violence, threats, or abuse of authority.

A new EU Directive on anti-corruption will require significant changes to national laws across Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, Poland and the Netherlands. This analysis examines the specific legislative amendments each jurisdiction must implement, from new criminal offenses and penalty regimes to corporate liability frameworks. Poland faces the most substantial overhaul, while other member states will need moderate adjustments to align with the Directive's requirements.

The Council of the European Union has formally adopted a landmark directive that will fundamentally reshape anti-corruption enforcement across the bloc. This new EU-wide law harmonises the definition of corruption offences and establishes uniform penalty thresholds, marking the most significant update to the EU's anti-corruption framework in over two decades.