Article 83(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union empowers the European legislator to establish minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions in the areas of particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension. This legal harmonisation competence was frequently used by the EU and resulted in the adoption of several criminal law directives. The Treaty determines ten areas of crime which can subject to legal harmonisation and most of which have already been regulated at the EU level. The objective of the article is to provide a detailed analysis of the requirements of the legal harmonisation competence, the scope of harmonisation, its procedural conditions and the possibility of the extension of the list of EU crimes. The paper also intends to present and analyse the legislative practice of the EU institutions and tries to formulate the relevant tendencies in connection with the current EU criminal policy.

This study analyses changes in parenthood law as a consequence of using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for bearing a child, particularly focusing on the following treatments: ova donation, surrogate motherhood, homologous artificial insemination, heterologous artificial insemination (artificial insemination by donor), posthumous fertilisation, and embryo donation. The study examines Serbian legal solutions and court practice, as well as comparative solutions and relevant decisions of the European Court for Human Rights. It primarily aims to determine the legal grounds for establishing motherhood and fatherhood in the cases using ART and examine the issue of legal status and rights of the donor of the genetic material.

Directive (EU) 2024/1203 on the protection of the environment through criminal law was adopted on 11 April 2024 and must be implemented into national law until 21 May 2026. It brings the obligation to introduce a lot of new criminal provision to protect the environment comprehensively. The Directive does not only contain provisions on minimum maximum penalties for natural and legal persons, but also other sanctions and measures aimed at prevention and restoration of the environment. It is the task of the courts and authorities to find adequate reactions to a conduct which damages the environment.

War is a legally relevant hazardous situation with potentially incalculable human casualties in terms of life and limb, especially of the soldiers in action. This dangerous situation is comparable to a nuclear power plant meltdown. Many European states have a constitutional obligation (not examined in detail). For example, the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria must qualitatively optimise armament for the purpose of protecting the fundamental rights of soldiers who may be fighting. This obligation exists throughout the EU based on the CFR and the jurisdiction of ECHR, in the rank of ordinary statutory law. Armament procurement is also a legal subject for multidimensional optimisation under numerous legal aspects, in particular the choice of contract type, price optimisation, and tax optimisation. Therefore, it should (finally) be considered multidimensionally for the benefit of the defence of freedom in EU-Europe and NATO as a whole. The procurement of defence equipment must contractually enable the core objectives of the state, namely secure availability, sustainable defence equipment, and cost-effective procurement. To this end, hundreds of individual contractual clauses and regulations must be used. Rental and leasing contract procurement is generally more cost-effective and otherwise offers no disadvantages compared to traditional purchase procurement. All conceivable disadvantages can be contractually prevented and avoided. Specific unavoidable disadvantages are practically not recognisable. It is a suitable “force multiplier and defence enabler.” Optimised contractual arrangements, particularly other contract types and VAT optimisation, can save at least tens of billions of euros per year in the whole EU-Europe. Due to the lower impact on the annual budget, more and/or better quality of armaments can be procured.

This article examines the challenges and opportunities of military space activities in the context of the sustainable development of space exploration. It investigates the legal frameworks governing military use, focusing on the need for regulations to address risks such as space debris caused by anti-satellite testing, as well as space governance issues. It analyses the role of international, regional (EU), and national laws and policies in achieving a sustainable and responsible exploration of outer space. The role of international and regional bodies such as the UN and EU in achieving sustainability goals is analysed in terms of the synergy between civil and military uses of space.

The absence of an internationally recognised legal boundary between airspace and outer space has long been acknowledged but has seldom resulted in practical operational issues. This was largely due to the clear technological distinctions between air and space activities. However, advancement in materials, propulsion and manufacturing technologies now enable operations in the transition zone between conventional aerial flight and spaceflight. It is only a matter of time before activities in this specific region around our Earth will be facing legal challenges. The lack of clear legal delimitation between outer space and airspace does not stem from an absence of natural phenomena that could define such a boundary but rather the existence of multiple valid criteria, each of which has counterarguments. To address this issue, it is proposed that an intermediate or transition zone be codified to establish a secure legal framework for these emerging higher airspace operations. Such a framework would provide legal security for investors, while fostering research, development and innovation. Although this measure would not resolve all legal ambiguities concerning spaceflight, it could alleviate challenges faced by developers and operators of stratospheric, mesospheric, and lower thermospheric flight technologies. This article explores practical examples and the technological contexts of these operations to inform developers about regulatory developments.

Persistent poverty in Serbia is affecting everyone, particularly children. This article examines the complex issue of poverty through the lens of Orthodox theology. Historically, Orthodox theology has been criticised for its passivity in addressing social injustices, often promising salvation in an afterlife paradise. Despite critiques of inactivity, the Orthodox Church in Serbia has been actively engaged in humanitarian assistance, extending support through various channels, including dioceses and collaborative efforts with other humanitarian organisations. Yet, there remains a striking difference between the Church’s perceived role as a guardian of tradition and national identity and its potential to be socially active within the constraints of history. In that manner, this article advocates for comprehension of a theological framework that would be able to guide charitable efforts. Recognising the intrinsic value that children embody within Christian tradition highlights the imperative of special care for children. Acknowledging the importance of tradition and theology within the Orthodox context, we believe, can inspire a dialogue between the Church and broader society. That would eventually help to transcend social passivity, changing the image of the Church towards active and systemic work, and towards the dynamic of love, justice, and compassion. In other words, the Serbian Orthodox Church should align this presence with its prophetic role of addressing and changing unjust social relations that cause poverty. Therefore, alleviating poverty and increasing social engagement should be top priorities in the coming years.

The main aim of the journal is to analyse scientific and practical problems in the scope of European integration processes. The articles are brought under three wide, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary themes. These are Social Evolution of Europe (e. g. social equality, migration, cross-cultural aspects, education management, etc.), Economics of the European Union (e. g. economic growth, competitiveness, financial aspects, comparative analysis of economic situation of countries, etc.) as well as Managerial Aspects of European Integration (business management, innovations, human capital development aspects, intellectual capital, etc.).

The study deals with issues relating to alternative institutional care to which children, particularly children with disabilities, are subjected. In the case of these children, there is often a multiple 'sensitisation' situation - not only are they minors, but they are deprived of parental care and have intellectual or physical disabilities. The legal regulations for children in such situations will be presented. Soft-law guidelines representing demands for adoption and implementation at the national level will also be identified and discussed. A separate analysis will be made of the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights on children in institutional care and how and to what extent this jurisprudence effectively influences the level of protection. In this aspect, particular attention will be paid to the issue of the vindication of violations of law violations by victims and the possible possibilities of making legal standing more flexible.

The canonical system of the Catholic Church considers the human being as a person who, according to the revelation, is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore deserves equal human dignity (regardless of age, gender; biological-, physical-, spiritual-, social conditions). This explains the fact that canon law sources already before a separate “children’s rights system” (i.e., 20th century) protected children’s rights from the time of the Early Church. Naturally, there is the painful phenomenon of sexual abuse of minors, which has been the most highlighted issue in the Church’s relationship with children in the last decades. It might seem that the protection of the rights of minors (i.e., children) is limited to the prevention and sanctioning of this gravest delict and the special care of the victims. However, the protection of children’s rights within the Church is much broader. Therefore, the right of parents to educate their children freely following their faith is also an essential right according the Church’s documents, since 1929.