#Anti-bribery and corruption:
Trial on suspicions of Libyan financing of Nicolas Sarkozy’s campaign: the must-read article to understand this affair of state
Since Monday 6 January 2025, the former President of the French Republic and eleven other defendants have been appearing before the Paris Criminal Court on suspicion of Libyan financing in connection with the 2007 presidential election campaign. The four-month trial focuses on whether there was a “corruption pact” between former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Nicolas Sarkozy is charged with corruption, concealing the misappropriation of public funds, illegal campaign financing and criminal conspiracy. He faces a maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a fine of 375,000 euros, as well as possible disqualification from holding public office. The criminal court may also order the confiscation of the proceeds of the above offences.> Read article
Investigation concerning corruption at the Ministry of the Interior: company directors and military personnel under investigation
On 8 January 2025, the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office opened a preliminary investigation into “suspicions of corruption” within the purchasing department of the Ministry of the Interior. The facts are said to have taken place in 2022 and relate in particular to “a contract awarded by a company that had been awarded a public contract to a subcontractor”. As part of the investigation, several company directors and members of the military are being targeted “for corruption, illegal interest and influence peddling”. One of the company directors has already been convicted of influence peddling in 2011 in connection with the award of a Ministry of Defence contract to Thales. One of the military officers targeted by the investigation was ‘taken into police custody in March 2023’ and suspended from his duties. > Read article
#Export Control & International Sanctions:
Syria: towards a conditional removal of Western sanctions
Following the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime on 8 December, the United States announced the temporary lifting of “certain economic sanctions” against Syria to “support the Syrian people”. The European Union, which has not yet made a clear statement on the matter, has nevertheless hinted that it will follow the US position. The US authorities have specified that these would be “waivers” that could be granted to “humanitarian organizations and companies providing essential goods, in particular electricity, oil and natural gas, as well as sanitation services”. > Read article
#Dispute resolution & regulatory investigations:
Delphine Legoherel and Victor Nicolle appointed to new CNIL directorates
Two new directorates have been created within the Independent Administrative Authority as part of an internal reorganization. Delphine Legoherel, previously Deputy Director for the protection of Rights Protection and Sanctions, has been appointed as “Director for the exercise of rights and complaints” as of 1 January 2025. Victor Nicolle has been appointed “Director of Controls and Sanctions” with effect from 13 January 2025. > Read article
The General Court orders the Commission to pay damages to a visitor to its “Conference on the Future of Europe” website because of the transfer of personal data to the United States
On 8 January 2025, in the Thomas Bindl v. Commission judgment, the General Court of the European Union ruled that the European Commission had allowed the transmission of a user’s IP address to the US company Meta Platforms, thereby compromising his personal data.
The plaintiff had used his Facebook profile to connect to a website managed by the Commission and claimed before the General Court that his personal data, and more specifically his IP address, had been transferred to the American company Meta Platforms, despite the fact that the level of protection of personal data in the United States was inadequate. In particular, he claimed compensation of 400 € for non-material damage. The General Court of the European Union upheld his claim and ordered the European Commission to pay compensation for the non-material damage resulting from the “position of some uncertainty as regards the processing of his personal data”. The General Court found, firstly, that the transfer of the applicant’s IP address, which constitutes personal data, to the United States was attributable to the Commission and, secondly, that at the time of the transfer, i.e. on 30 March 2022, the United States did not provide adequate safeguards for the protection of personal data. > Read article
