Abstract. This analytical note presents the results of a study of international standards and case law regarding the protection of honour, dignity and business reputation in the context of freedom of expression. Particular attention is paid to the concept of heightened tolerance of public figures to criticism and the specifics of applying the ‘criminal intent’ standard in US Law. The mechanisms for implementing the ‘right to be forgotten’ under the General Data Protection Regulation are analysed, as well as the criteria for balancing privacy and the public interest in access to information. Legal approaches to distinguishing between factual statements and evaluative judgements in various jurisdictions are analysed. The document also highlights the issue of ‘strategic lawsuits against public participation’.

Keywords: defamation, public figures, right to be forgotten, value judgements, case law of the European Court of Human Rights, anti-SLAPP.

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03/2026

Abstract. This analytical note presents the results of a study of the issue of establishing criminal liability for defamation. It identifies the types of criminal liability for defamation, the conditions under which such liability arises, and the aggravating factors. Trends towards the decriminalisation of defamation are also explored. The analysis is based on a study of the relevant legislation of the Group of Seven (G7) countries (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Japan, the USA), as well as Poland.

Keywords: criminalisation, decriminalisation, slander, defamation, criminal liability, criminal code.

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03/2026

Abstract. The information reference presents the results of an analysis of selectedl aspects of the implementation of the provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Recording Information on Damage Caused to the Personal Non-Property Rights of Individuals as a Result of the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine” with particular attention to the organization and functioning of the System for Recording Information on Personal Non-Property Damage Caused to Citizens of Ukraine as a result of armed aggression. The reference emphasises the prerequisites for establishing a regulatory framework to ensure the proper recording of such damage. It also highlights the development of an international system for recording information on damage caused by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

Key words: injured person, personal non-property rights of individuals, armed aggression, information recording, damage.

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03/2026

Abstract. The informational reference examines the grounds for decriminalization of acts provided for in Article 391 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Malicious Disobedience to the Requirements of the Administration of a Penal Institution”, as well as the improvement of the grounds for applying punitive measures to persons deprived of their liberty in the context of the draft Law of Ukraine (No. 15003-1 dated 16 February 2026).

The draft law is considered to comply with the requirements of the Constitution of Ukraine, the fundamental principles of law-making activity, and the provisions of current legislation governing the grounds, procedures for imposing, and serving criminal sentences.

Key words: criminal liability, offense, punishment, malicious disobedience, penitentiary system, imprisonment, convict.

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03/2026

Abstract. This informational reference presents the results of an analysis of the proposals set out in the draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Article 40 of the Labour Code of Ukraine Regarding the Clarification of Possible Grounds for Dismissal of an Employee at the Initiative of the Employer Due to Absence from the Workplace for More than Three Hours, with a View to Ensuring Protection against Unlawful Dismissal” (No. 14235 dated 20 November 2025). Particular attention is devoted to the specific features of the legal regulation governing dismissal at the employer’s initiative, in particular on the grounds of absenteeism, taking into account the case law of the Supreme Court.

Keywords: Labour Code of Ukraine, dismissal at the employer's initiative, absenteeism, valid reasons for an employee's absence from the workplace.

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02/2026

Abstract. This analytical note examines the legislative regulation of real estate brokerage services in the Member States of the European Union. It identifies the main types of real estate brokerage services, the requirements for individuals who may act as real estate agents, issues related to agents’ remuneration and liability in this field, as well as information on the existence of national associations of real estate agents, among other aspects. The analysis is based on a review of the relevant legislation of Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Estonia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden.

Keywords: real estate agent, real estate brokerage activity, real estate brokerage services, real estate broker, brokerage activity, property broker, real estate, immovable property, intermediary, intermediary services.

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02/2026

Abstract. The analytical note examines the legislative regulation of the principles governing railway transport in the Baltic States following the opening of the European Union railway transport market. It analyses the relevant experience of railway transport reform in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania after their accession to the European Union.

Keywords: railway transport, opening of the EU railway transport market, access to railway infrastructure in the Baltic States, Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), Rail Baltica transport corridor.

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02/2026

Abstract. The informational reference presents the results of an analysis of the draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Article 73 of the Labour Code of Ukraine Regarding the Establishment of a Public Holiday – St. Andrew’s Day” (No. 14261 dated 28 November 2025). The proposal to include a new public holiday – the Day of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle, to be observed annually on 30 November – in the list of public holidays set out in Article 73 of the Labour Code of Ukraine is examined. The reference also outlines relevant practices in the member states of the European Union.

Key words: public holiday, public holiday calendar, Day of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle, non-working day, holiday, festive day, labour legislation of Ukraine.

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02/2026

Abstract. The informational reference analyses the transformation of the justice system of Ukraine in the context of the negotiation process on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and the completion of the bilateral screening of legislation under negotiating Chapter 23 “Judiciary and Fundamental Rights”. It examines recent European trends, in particular the implementation of e-justice standards, the ethical boundaries of the use of artificial intelligence (AI), overcoming the professional isolation of judges through “intervision” mechanisms, and improving the quality and clarity of judicial decisions. Special attention is paid to assessing the operational capacity of judicial governance bodies, the results of establishing an autonomous system of disciplinary accountability, and the implementation of merit-based procedures for the selection of judges based on objective integrity criteria. The reference also provides a critical analysis of systemic challenges that threaten the functional stability and continuity of the justice system under martial law.

Key words: rule of law, independence of judges, judicial system, European integration, meritocracy, digitalisation of justice, integrity, disciplinary accountability of judges, qualification assessment of judges.

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03/2026

Abstract. The analytical note examines the legal regulation and features of civil servant promotion in the Member States of the European Union, using France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, and Poland as examples. It identifies the basic mechanisms of promotion (competitions, quotas, training requirements) and the models of promotion (automatic advancement based on length of service and advancement through grades).

Keywords: civil service, civil servants, promotion, length of civil service, civil servant grade, categories of the civil service.

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02/2026