European Union: International Law

Two recent European Court judgments clarify when EU sanctions can freeze an unlisted company's funds through ownership or control by a listed person. The Inter Rao Lietuva and Abramovich cases establish different evidentiary standards and challenge routes, requiring businesses to understand the specific legal basis for any payment restriction.

Belgium has significantly strengthened its sanctions enforcement framework through revised legislation that entered into force on 1 September 2026. The new Economic Sanctions Law grants authorities broader investigative powers, establishes a dedicated sanctions investigation team, and dramatically increases both administrative and criminal penalties for violations of EU economic sanctions.

European sanctions against Russia now extend to trademark filings at France's INPI, creating new compliance requirements and restrictions for intellectual property practitioners and businesses operating in affected jurisdictions. Understanding these regulatory changes is essential for managing trademark portfolios and ensuring compliance with evolving sanctions regimes.

Two recent European Court judgments clarify when EU sanctions can freeze an unlisted company's funds through ownership or control by a listed person. The Inter Rao Lietuva and Abramovich cases establish different evidentiary standards and challenge routes, requiring businesses to understand the specific legal basis for any payment restriction.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has delivered a landmark ruling on whether political parties may invoke freedom of expression to justify using reputed trademarks in their campaigns. When Belgian political party Vlaams Belang adopted the IKEA trademark for its immigration reform programme, Inter IKEA Systems challenged the use, forcing European courts to balance intellectual property rights against fundamental freedoms. The judgment establishes a nuanced framework requiring case-by-case assessment

Securing a court judgment against a Cyprus company is only the beginning of the recovery process. The real challenge lies in identifying available assets and implementing effective enforcement measures, whether through writs of execution, garnishee proceedings, charging orders, or insolvency proceedings, while coordinating strategies across multiple jurisdictions.

The 2026 EU-India Free Trade Agreement, combined with the longstanding Netherlands-India tax treaty, creates unprecedented opportunities for Indian companies seeking European market access. Understanding the legal framework for investment structuring, M&A transactions, trade compliance, intellectual property protection, and tax planning is essential for Indian businesses establishing operations in the Netherlands.

The transfer of personal data from the EU to the USA faces renewed scrutiny following a US Supreme Court ruling that grants the President authority to remove Federal Trade Commission members. This development challenges the independence requirements underlying the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and its adequacy decision, potentially jeopardizing the legal basis for transatlantic data transfers that thousands of organizations rely upon.

The 2026 EU-India Free Trade Agreement, combined with the long-standing Netherlands-India tax treaty, has created unprecedented opportunities for Indian companies seeking to establish operations in Europe. This comprehensive analysis examines how these two legal instruments work together to reduce trade barriers, lower tax burdens, and provide strategic advantages for Indian businesses entering the European market through the Netherlands.