Tag: EU

EU Going Forward with an Anti-SLAPP Law

EU Going Forward with an Anti-SLAPP Law


What is an anti-slapp? Hello, this is Reinhard von Hennigs. And before we dig deeper into the question of what an anti-SLAPP is, let's talk about what a slapp is. SLAPP is an acronym, and it stands for strategic lawsuit against public participation. It is in other words, an intimidation lawsuit. If somebody doesn't want somebody else to talk about it, How about filing a lawsuit and having this person silenced because otherwise, the legal costs will be tremendous. 


Especially in countries where there is no loser pay rule. It is very expensive to defend oneself against a pretty useless lawsuit. Many states in the United States have an act as a so-called anti-slapp law, which means that cases filed against somebody with the intent to intimidate somebody will create a different burden of fees and expenses, and therefore it is no longer attractive. 


The European Union, however, is right now deciding to move an anti-slapp law forward. The current situation in Europe is that not a single European state has enacted an anti-slapp law and now the European Union wants to govern all over Europe to protect public policy, watchdogs, journalists, whistleblowers, and whoever it is from a SLAPP. 


It is useful because, under the Lugano convention and other different European rules, it is relatively easy to pick the best place in Europe to file a lawsuit. Forum shopping, how it's called, and then go against somebody who's speaking from a public policy point of view.


The European Union is now pushing this measure forward to protect the freedom of speech all over Europe. Non-member states are of course doing something outside of the European Union, but within the European Union, this may change the freedom of the press, where there is no more fear for any SLAPP litigation.


#428, June 2021, SLAPP, EU, litigation, Lugano Convention.

Why Did 700,000 People Leave London in 2020?

Brexit Effect on the Labor Market


Big Ben, the symbol of the United Kingdom! If Big Ben rang every time someone leaves London, then it wouldn’t stop ringing at all. A recent study published shows that in 2020, nearly 700,000 inhabitants of London have left the city. Many of them also left the country. Right now, the current statistic is that about 1.3 million people left the United Kingdom in the wake of Brexit. It is not clear to me how many of these folks leave London and the UK because of Brexit? It is also possible that they could have lost their job because of the coronavirus, or maybe they just feel like other opportunities outside of the UK are more relevant for them.


The downside now is that the labor market in London and the United Kingdom is very complicated.Work is tight and it’s very difficult for employers to find qualified labor. A discussion point I picked up the other day is that there is a serious discussion to reduce the rights of the workers in light of the shortage of workers. I feel like it should be the other way around however. With a shortage of workers, their negotiation power should go up to claim some more benefits. Whether it be Brexit, COVID-19, or whatever else it is, the situation in London and the UK in general is complicated. For you as business people, I’m sure a big question for you is if London is a good place to invest or operate your business. If you see a shortage of labor and a labor market that doesn’t give you enough qualified choices, I’d say for now to stay out of the United Kingdom.


#334, January 2021, London, UK, Brexit, employment, labor market.