Criminal code

The government has tabled the new draft criminal code and the new draft criminal procedure code and both are to come to a vote this week.

The two codes are to come into effect on 1 July.

None of the mainstream political parties would deny that Greece's penal code needs to be seriously update and revised. It is not an issue that needs to turned into a fresh arena of political confrontation.

Justice Minister Tudorel Toader met on Friday with Vera Jourova, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumer Protection and Gender Equality, among the topics discussed by the two officials being the developments in the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) and the stage of the amendments brought to the Justice laws, the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that he will challenge with the Constitutional Court (CCR) the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure.

It all started with a news report two weeks ago. A half-famous, minor jet-set TV personality called Murat Başoğlu was "caught" by paparazzi in a boat off the Aegean coast cavorting with a woman who is not his wife.

The European Commission has warned the government in Romania not to ruin the results achieved in combating corruption.

In a specific statement, the EC pointed outs that the latest events might have a negative effect on evaluations in the next monitoring report on the country.

The Venice Commission, the legal advisory body of the Council of Europe, has recommended changes to the crime of "insulting the president" in Turkey, pointing to the law's "vague wording" and increase in related cases and penalties. 

President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday that he will not sign off proposed changes to the criminal code as "the changes are not in the MPs's own interests".

President Klaus Iohannis said Monday that he will not accept the latest amendments to the criminal codes to favour the interests of parliamentarians, insisting that he will not promulgate the amendments.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

Bulgaria's Justice Ministry published on Tuesday a bill amending and supplementing the Criminal Code, which is focused on providing adequate protection against terrorism.

The amendments address gaps in the Criminal Code, especially in view of the potential danger of terrorist activities, which are one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.