I'm considering buying a Macbook Pro Retina, and I'm debating between shelling out for the brand new version, versus getting a refurb.
Is the warranty the same on both new and refurb, direct from Apple?
The warranty is the same. One year. You can also extend it for two more years with Apple Care.
The various EU laws are NOT a warranty. They are a seller to buyer protection which has a variety of rules depending on the country regarding length to claim, etc. But it is always with the seller. Whereas a warranty is with the manufacturer.
Yes, the warranty is the same. Additionally, check the laws of your own country too. The EU guarantees a second year of consumer law protection, but many countries go above and beyond that.