Insights

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The EU-US Privacy Shield is No More Telecoms, Media & Technology

The EU-US Privacy Shield is No More

This article was written by Dr. Warren Ciantar and Dr. Claude Micallef-Grimaud.On Thursday 16th July 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union ('CJEU') ruled that the 'Privacy Shield' agreement allowing for the transfer of personal data between the European Union and the United States of America does not provide sufficient protection from US surveillance to EU citizens.To fully appreciate the context and ramifications of this decision, one must go back to 2013, when a young Austrian privacy activist by the name of Max Schrems raised a complaint against Facebook with the Irish Data Protection Commissioner. The complaint centered around…
Warren Ciantar
23rd July 2020
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Undertakings with Links to Tax Havens not to Receive State aid Antitrust, Competition and TradeLegal Updates

Undertakings with Links to Tax Havens not to Receive State aid

The European Commission ('Commission') has issued a recommendation to Member States that undertakings with links to tax havens (see list) and/or undertakings that have been convicted of serious financial crimes should not be beneficiaries of any state aid.The aim behind this recommendation is to avoid the misuse of public funds and to strengthen safeguards against tax abuse and financial crime throughout the Union. Nevertheless, it ought to be noted that the recommendation does not absolutely prohibit every undertaking with a link to a listed non-cooperative jurisdiction from receiving State aid. Member States are to make known to the Commission the…
MamoTCV Advocates
16th July 2020
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Are Foreign Subsidies Distorting the EU’s Single Market? Antitrust, Competition and Trade

Are Foreign Subsidies Distorting the EU’s Single Market?

This article was written by Dr Michael Psaila and Dr Laura SpiteriThe openness of the European Union (the 'EU') to foreign investment has been the subject of much recent debate. While this openness brought with it a myriad of opportunities, it also brought increased risks and in light of this, the European Commission (the 'Commission') published for consultation a White Paper on Foreign Subsidies in the Internal Market (the 'White Paper') on the 17 June 2020. Various EU instruments, including competition and public procurement rules, ensure fair conditions in the Single Market, with subsidies by Member States being subjected to…
Michael Psaila
13th July 2020
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How far should the employer go to provide alternative employment in case of health problems? Employment and Industrial Relations

How far should the employer go to provide alternative employment in case of health problems?

In a judgment delivered on the 1st July 2020 (case number 83/2019LM), the Court of Appeal considered the requirements of constructive dismissal. An ex-employee claimed that he had been forced to resign from his employment due to health problems which did not allow him to continue his job. Through his trade union, the employee requested the employer to provide him with alternative employment, but the company replied that none was available. After exhausting all his sick leave and a further period of unpaid leave, he decided to terminate his employment. The Tribunal had decided that the employee had not resigned…
Christine Calleja
10th July 2020
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Iconic Ferrari 250 GTO Trademark (Partially) Cancelled Intellectual Property

Iconic Ferrari 250 GTO Trademark (Partially) Cancelled

"Cancellation Division considers that genuine use of the contested EUTM has been sufficiently demonstrated for the relevant factors in relation to toy vehicles, scale-model vehicles, whereas no use of the mark or proper reasons for non-use have been demonstrated in relation to any of the other goods for which it is registered."Hardcore car enthusiasts (or just casual followers of the Top Gear series) know that the Ferrari 250 GTO is the holy grail of the automotive world – a car so valuable and revered that Jeremy Clarkson himself was denied the privilege of driving it. It remains, as far as…
Jonathan Tonna
10th July 2020
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Amendments to the Companies Act Corporate and M&A

Amendments to the Companies Act

This article was written by Dr Michael Psaila and Dr Joshua ChircopOverviewOn the 23rd June 2020, the President, on the advice and with the consent of the House of Representatives, enacted the Companies (Amendment) Act, Act number XXXI of 2020 (the "Amendment Act"), which introduces certain amendments to the Companies Act, Chapter 386 of the Laws of Malta (the "Act").The Companies (Amendment) Bill (the "Bill") was previously tabled before the House of Representatives by the Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses on the 13th May 2020. This Bill was reported in a previous article.The Act introduces:new grounds for…
Michael Psaila
5th July 2020