Cyprus To host conference On cultural rights in Framework Of MED9 In September

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

August 14, 2024

A conference on ‘Cultural Rights in Times of Crisis – Contemporary challenges and perspectives’ will be held in Cyprus on 16 September, within the framework of the 9 Mediterranean Member States of the EU (MED9) Summit.

The conference is being organised by the Deputy Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Organisation for European Programmes and Cultural Relations and the University of Cyprus.

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According to a press release by the Deputy Ministry of Culture, the Conference will be followed by a closed online meeting of the Ministers of Culture of the MED9.

The aim of the conference, which will start with a keynote lecture by UN Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights Dr Alexandra Xanthaki and will bring together experts from both Cyprus and abroad, is to discuss the importance of safeguarding cultural rights and the Mediterranean cultural heritage, as well as to promote regional cultural cooperation in supporting artistic freedom in the spirit of cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, equality, and inclusiveness.

The conference will be inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Vasiliki Kassianidou, the Rector of the University of Cyprus, Professor Tasos Christofides and the Head of the Cultural Policy Unit of the European Commission Catherine Magnant.

The proceedings will take place on Monday, 16 September, at the University of Cyprus. The conference will be open to the public and includes a panel discussion with the participant experts.

As it is noted, acknowledging the political urgency of safeguarding cultural rights in times of crisis, particularly in the context of the accelerating pace of political, economic, climate, and technological challenges, the aim is that at the end of the meeting, the Ministers will adopt a Declaration on Cultural Rights.

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EU Top Court Ends Google’s Android Appeal, Upholds $4.7 Billion Fine

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 3, 2026

Europe’s highest court has delivered a decisive blow to Google, upholding a nearly €4.1 billion antitrust fine linked to the company’s Android business and bringing one of the European Union’s biggest competition cases to a close.

A Final Loss For Google

On Thursday, the European Court of Justice dismissed Google’s appeal against the European Commission’s 2018 ruling, leaving the company with no further avenue of appeal.

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“The Court of Justice dismisses the appeal brought by Google and Alphabet… thereby confirming the penalty imposed on them… for their anticompetitive practices relating to the Android operating system,” the court said.

Alphabet shares slipped about 1% in premarket trading following the ruling.

Why The Case Matters

The Commission found that Google had used Android’s dominant position in the smartphone market to strengthen its own ecosystem by requiring manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and other proprietary apps. Regulators argued the practice restricted competition by making it harder for rival services to reach users.

Although the original €4.34 billion penalty was reduced by a lower EU court in 2022, the key findings remained unchanged.

Google has consistently defended Android, arguing it promotes consumer choice and supports manufacturers, developers and businesses across Europe.

“Android provides more choice for everyone and supports thousands of businesses,” a Google spokesperson told CNBC, adding that the company had already updated its agreements after the Commission’s original decision in 2018 and remains focused on innovation.

Part Of A Broader Crackdown

The Android ruling is one of several major competition cases brought against Google over the past decade. Last year, the Commission also imposed a €2.95 billion fine over the company’s advertising technology business.

At the same time, Brussels has increasingly shifted from lengthy antitrust investigations to enforcing broader legislation such as the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act, giving regulators wider powers to oversee major technology companies.

“The decision… represents the end of what might be termed the European Commission’s ‘first stage’ battle with big tech,” Alex Haffner, a partner at Fladgate, told CNBC, adding that the EU’s focus has now shifted toward its newer digital regulations.

Pressure On Big Tech Is Unlikely To Ease

Europe’s approach has repeatedly drawn criticism from President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials, who argue that heavy regulation and multibillion-euro fines risk undermining innovation.

For Google, Thursday’s judgment closes one of its longest-running legal battles in Europe. For the EU, it reinforces a clear message: dominant technology companies will continue to face close regulatory scrutiny, with competition enforcement now increasingly complemented by the bloc’s broader digital rulebook.

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