On December 5, the European Court of Human Rights began hearings in the case of Giuliani v. Italy. In 2003, an Italian judge dismissed the prosecution of two policemen who allegedly caused the shooting death of Carlo Giuliani while protesting during the G-8 Summit in Genoa in 2001. The applicants, who are relatives of the deceased, claim that Italy’s dismissal of the case violated the European Convention of Human Rights. For more information see here.
On December 7, the Court of First Instance will hear the case Fédération des industries condimentaires de France and Others v. Commission. The plaintiff is seeking compensation for damages allegedly suffered because of the Commission’s failure to act in response to U.S. retaliatory measures authorised by the WTO and applied to some EU products. More information is available here.
Every year, almost three million long-term migrants legally enter OECD countries. According to a recent OECD report, well-managed immigration flows offer benefits both for host countries and for migrants and their families. The OECD urges host countries to ensure that immigration systems meet local labor market needs, to provide for anti-discrimination legislation and flexible education policies, and increase cooperation between local institutions and employers.
For a press release, see: http://www.oecd.org/document/4/0,2340,en_2649_201185_37784708_1_1_1_1,00.html
On December 6, The Steering Committee in charge of the Joint Council of Europe/European Commission Programme on improving the functioning of the judicial system in Ukraine will meet in Kiev. The the programme’s purpose is to improve the organization of the Ukranian judicial profession.
For more information, see here.
Germany announced an additional donation of EUR 1 million to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund to finance technical assistance programs and training activities for developing and least developed countries. Director General Pascal Lamy hopes this donation will enhance the participation of poor countries in the multilateral trading system. The donation brings Germany’s total contribution for the year to approximately 1.7 million euros.
Further information is available here.
A report mandated by the Human Rights Council on Israel’s summer war with Hizbollah in Lebanon was presented in Geneva on Friday. The report states that Israel’s actions were excessive, not justified by military necessity and went beyond the arguments of proportionality. The report claims that Israel violated obligations of international and humanitarian law. Israel spoke out against the report, saying the report ignored the obligations of the Lebanese Government to prevent the use of its territory for hostile acts, and to disarm and disband Hizbollah.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20832&Cr=lebanon&Cr1=council
