Porto Faculty of Law hosts judge Tihamér Tóth to discuss current European justice and restrictive measures against Russia

Porto Faculty of Law hosted Tihamér Tóth, judge of the General Court of the European Union, to discuss the institution's crucial role in the current context.

In the first seminar, entitled “Two in one - the Role of the General Court in the EU Judicature Structure”, the hungarian judge presented the European institution, describing it as “two courts in one”, explaining that the General Court mainly fulfils the function of an administrative court, tasked with reviewing the legality of the actions of the European Union institutions, while the Court of Justice deals with appeals and acts as a constitutional court on certain issues, answering queries from national courts on the interpretation of European law.

Tihamér Tóth addressed the role of judge at the General Court of the EU, emphasising that it requires a generalist approach, encompassing various areas of law, to ensure comprehensive and effective supervision.

In the second lecture entitled “Is there room for judicial control of political decisions? Russian restrictive measures before the General Court of Justice,” held as part of the ISP Dialogues, the judge analysed the “restrictive measures” adopted by the European Union towards Russia in response to the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. Without resorting to “sanctions”, the European Union has been implementing diplomatic and economic pressure on the Russian government, individuals and related companies, for example by freezing assets and banning travel, reviewing these restrictions every six months to maximise their effectiveness and impact. Using the metaphor of “concentric circles” proposed by Advocate General Mengozzi, the judge emphasised that the restrictions start with senior government officials and work their way down to businessmen and influential figures in the regime and their close relatives.

The seminar ended with a practical analysis of the complexities and challenges associated with restrictive measures, illustrated by the Rotenberg case, demonstrating how the European Union has been adapting its policies on restriction packages in response to a constantly evolving political landscape.