Review of European and Comparative Law, 2022, Vol. 48, No 1

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    European Union model of whistleblowing
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2022) Kobroń-Gąsiorowska, Łucja
    In October 2019, the European Union adopted the Directive on protecting persons reporting breaches of European Union law, commonly known as the „Whistleblower Protection Directive” (EU Directive). The protection of national policies is beyond the scope of the Directive, as its sole purpose is to encourage people to report "breaches of EU law", ie, to strengthen „enforcement of the Union law and policies in specific areas”. The Directive is not concerned with the protection of workers or employees. The Directive treats whistleblowers as an instrument for reporting irregularities. Another proof of the instrumental approach adopted in the Directive is the lack of any financial incentives for whistleblowers. This article's basic thesis is that despite dynamic and multifaceted changes in the economy of individual countries, the accepted model of whistleblowing in the European Union will depend on repeated multidimensional analysis of the principle of the lawyer's loyalty to the organization. The research presented below aims to prove the validity of the adopted thesis.
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    “Chilling Effect” in the Judicial Decisions of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal as an Example of a Legal Transplant
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2022) Chybalski, Piotr
    The paper is dedicated to describing the way of reception by the Polish Constitutional Tribunal of the “chilling effect”, i.e. an institution related to such activities of public authorities that form an indirect act of deterrence regarding the execution of constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms, esp. the freedom of expression. The discussed concept has originated in judicial decisions of the US Supreme Court and has spread into many contemporary legal systems, including jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. Although it is evident that the Tribunal “took over” that concept from the ECHR, it in fact developed its own, unfortunately internally inconsistent, understanding of the chilling effect. Four different ways of application of chilling effect may be noticed in judicial decisions of the Polish CT, while only two of them reflect the perception of this institution by the US Supreme Court and the ECHR.
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    Taxation of Academic Teachers’ Royalties. Controversies in the context of the general interpretation by the Minister of Finance
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2022) Świstak, Marzena; Smoleń, Paweł Piotr
    The Act on Personal Income Tax stipulates a number of methods for calculating costs, which unfortunately often leads to disputes between taxpayers and tax authorities. The same also concerns the rules applicable specifically to academic teachers performing their duties under an employment relationship. Problems emerge both in the context of the manner and scope of eligibility for flat-rate 50% tax-deductible expenses. Notably, the interpretative problems stem not only from the provisions of tax law as such. They also emerge in the context of higher education reform. But even though the observed legal inconsistencies require urgent legislative action, the necessary amendment to the provisions of the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science has yet to be introduced. Nearly two years after the Act’s entry into force, the Minister of Finance finally decided to issue a general interpretation. Therein, it is stated that in terms of the applicability of 50% tax-deductible expenses, the Act of 20 July 2018 – Law on Higher Education and Science constituteslex specialis, i.e. ultimately, the 50% cost deduction is applicable to the entirety of an academic teacher’s remuneration. The following paper provides a critical analysis of the present regulations as well as possible solutions to the current fiscal and legal stalemate. In the authors’ opinion, the general interpretation by the Minister of Finance fails to substantially amend the quality of the law whose provisions remain largely unclear. At the same time, its practical value for academia cannot be denied. Undoubtedly, the fact that the same was issued by the direct superior of tax authorities will make this opinion difficult to ignore in the context of individual cases.
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    Legal status of farmers involved in short food supply chains, a comparative study
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2022) Kapała, Anna Maria
    The legal status of farmers involved in food marketing is not determined by the EU legislator, however, EU policy encourages farmers’ participation in short food supply chains. The article aims to determine whether a farmer selling his products, both processed and unprocessed, is subject to a favourable legal regime intended for the agricultural sector, or whether this activity qualifies him as a commercial entrepreneur. The legislation of three EU Member States and the law of the USA were subject to a comparative legal analysis, based on the dogmatic method. The study found that under the EU Member States’ law, farmers involved in short food supply chains are granted a privileged agricultural status, which certainly strengthens their market position in competition with food businesses and big retailers and is an incentive to undertake and conduct the activity of agri-food marketing. In turn, under American law, agricultural activity and direct marketing are economic activities that cause farmers to operate within a business as an entrepreneur. The main tool to support the participation of US farmers in short food supply chains is financial programmes offering incentives to direct marketing. It was concluded that the systemic legal solutions, as in the presented legislation of the EU countries, in contrast to aid programmes, provides farmers with favourable conditions in the long term, without additional bureaucracy and the need to fill out documents and applications, thus giving them a sense of confidence and stability in engaging in food direct marketing.