Monica Claes – författare

This book reflects on selected issues of European law in dialogue with leading legal scholar Bruno De Witte, whose work has enlightened generations of students, scholars and practitioners of European law. The volume is designed to mark the impressive academic oeuvre of a great legal mind and true academic whose elegant and insightful writings have decisively contributed to the advancement of the study of European law.The contributions attempt to ‘make sense of European Union law’ reflecting Bruno’s mission as a legal scholar and commenting on some of the themes that he has worked on: constitutional Europe, differentiated Europe, social and educational Europe and minorities Europe. It culminates in reflections on the very nature of Bruno’s scholarship and his academic persona. Not only is this book a public recognition and an expression of appreciation for all that Bruno has offered to the European legal community but also an invitation to challenge the way many scholars think of academic careers and their ways to success.

This book reflects on selected issues of European law in dialogue with leading legal scholar Bruno De Witte, whose work has enlightened generations of students, scholars and practitioners of European law. The volume is designed to mark the impressive academic oeuvre of a great legal mind and true academic whose elegant and insightful writings have decisively contributed to the advancement of the study of European law.The contributions attempt to ''make sense of European Union law'' reflecting Bruno''s mission as a legal scholar and commenting on some of the themes that he has worked on: constitutional Europe, differentiated Europe, social and educational Europe and minorities Europe. It culminates in reflections on the very nature of Bruno''s scholarship and his academic persona. Not only is this book a public recognition and an expression of appreciation for all that Bruno has offered to the European legal community but also an invitation to challenge the way many scholars think of academic careers and their ways to success.

This book reflects on selected issues of European law in dialogue with leading legal scholar Bruno De Witte, whose work has enlightened generations of students, scholars and practitioners of European law. The volume is designed to mark the impressive academic oeuvre of a great legal mind and true academic whose elegant and insightful writings have decisively contributed to the advancement of the study of European law.The contributions attempt to ''make sense of European Union law'' reflecting Bruno''s mission as a legal scholar and commenting on some of the themes that he has worked on: constitutional Europe, differentiated Europe, social and educational Europe and minorities Europe. It culminates in reflections on the very nature of Bruno''s scholarship and his academic persona. Not only is this book a public recognition and an expression of appreciation for all that Bruno has offered to the European legal community but also an invitation to challenge the way many scholars think of academic careers and their ways to success.

This book reflects on selected issues of European law in dialogue with leading legal scholar Bruno De Witte, whose work has enlightened generations of students, scholars and practitioners of European law. The volume is designed to mark the impressive academic oeuvre of a great legal mind and true academic whose elegant and insightful writings have decisively contributed to the advancement of the study of European law.The contributions attempt to ‘make sense of European Union law’ reflecting Bruno’s mission as a legal scholar and commenting on some of the themes that he has worked on: constitutional Europe, differentiated Europe, social and educational Europe and minorities Europe. It culminates in reflections on the very nature of Bruno’s scholarship and his academic persona. Not only is this book a public recognition and an expression of appreciation for all that Bruno has offered to the European legal community but also an invitation to challenge the way many scholars think of academic careers and their ways to success.

The reform of the European Constitution continues to dominate news headlines and has provoked a massive debate, unprecedented in the history of EU law. Against this backdrop Monica Claes'' book offers a "bottom up" view of how the Constitution might work, taking the viewpoint of the national courts as her starting point, and at the same time returning to fundamental principles in order to interrogate the myths of Community law. Adopting a broad, comparative approach, she analyses the basic doctrines of Community law from both national constitutional perspectives as well as the more usual European perspective. It is only by combining the perspectives of the EU and national constitutions, she argues, that a complete picture can be obtained, and a solid theoretical base (constitutional pluralism) developed. Her comparative analysis encompasses the law in France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom and in the course of her inquiry discusses a wide variety of prominent problems.The book is structured around three main themes, coinciding with three periods in the development of the judicial dialogue between the ECJ and the national courts. The first focuses on the ordinary non-constitutional national courts and how they have successfully adapted to the mandates developed by the ECJ in Simmenthal and Francovich. The second examines the constitutional and other review courts and discusses the gradual transformation of the ECJ into a constitutional court, and its relationship to the national constitutional courts. The contrast is marked; these courts are not specifically empowered by the case law of the ECJ and have reacted quite differently to the message from Luxembourg, leaving them apparently on collision course with the ECJ in the areas of judicial Kompetenz Kompetenz and fundamental rights. The third theme reprises the first two and places them in the context of the current debate on the Constitution for Europe and the Convention, taking the perspective of the national courts as the starting point for a wide-ranging examination of EU''s constitutional fundamentals. In so doing it argues that the new Constitution must accommodate the national perspective if it is to prove effective.

Constitutions serve to delineate state powers and enshrine basic rights. Such matters are hardly uncontroversial, but perhaps even more controversial are the questions of who (should) uphold(s) the Constitution and how constitutional review is organised. These two questions are the subject of this book by Maartje de Visser, which offers a comprehensive, comparative analysis of how 11 representative European countries answer these questions, as well as a critical appraisal of the EU legal order in light of these national experiences. Where possible, the book endeavours to identify Europe's common and diverse constitutional traditions of constitutional review. The raison d'être, jurisdiction and composition of constitutional courts are explored and so too are core features of the constitutional adjudicatory process. Yet, this book also deliberately draws attention to the role of non-judicial actors in upholding the Constitution, as well as the complex interplay amongst constitutional courts and other actors at the national and European level. The Member States featured are: Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, and the United Kingdom.This book is intended for practitioners, academics and students with an interest in (European) constitutional law.

This book discusses the making of a constitutional law for Europe, consisting of constitutional rules and principles which are complemented by those of national constitutions. But it is further multi-layered, informed as it is by international frameworks such as the European Convention of Human Rights. The authors meticulously illustrate these connections and how they interrelate. Drawing on extensive comparative constitutional research, they explore the various dynamics of this composite constitutional structure, uncovering the common heritage on which the European Union is built. The book also examines the rich diversity in constitutional traditions between its Member States. This collection expertly untangles the constitutional complexity at the heart of the European Union.

Adopting a comparative perspective, this book offers a comprehensive study of the institution of constitutional review in 11 European countries (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland and the United Kingdom) as well as a critical appraisal of the EU legal order in light of these national experiences. Where possible, the book endeavours to identify Europe’s common and diverse constitutional traditions of constitutional review. More particularly, the raison d’être, jurisdiction and composition of constitutional courts are explored and so too are core features of the constitutional adjudicatory process. Yet, this book also deliberately draws attention to the role of non-judicial actors in upholding the Constitution, as well as the complex interplay amongst constitutional courts and other actors at the national and European level.‘ ... a highly welcome contribution as a well-researched handbook for all those interested in comparative constitutional legal studies in the Member States and the EU constitutional legal order’. Benedikt Pirker, European Law Blog‘ ... this book is a veritable tour de force as it is a tour d’Europe. Comparative analysis of constitutional review from a neutral perspective encompassing eleven states and the EU, is a highly ambitious project, one that de Visser has achieved in accomplishing with great skill and eloquence’. Joelle Grogan, EUtopia Law Blog‘Ultimately, Maartje de Visser’s comparative contribution to the exploration of the constitutional review issue should be warmly welcomed as an even-handed, lucidly written and insightful addition to the ever-swelling body of scholarship in this area … the author has managed to construct, without superficiality and with well-paced order, a comprehensive and credible survey of constitutional review practices across Europe – a survey that is at once a heavy-duty piece of scholarship and a generally fascinating book’. Joseph Tomlinson, Cambridge Law Journal‘[T]his book should be considered the new compulsory starting point for anyone interested in any key aspect of the constitutional adjudicatory process, and wishing to be quickly able to rely on authoritative points of comparison … [I]t is difficult not to be struck by the quality of the research undertaken and the subtle nature of the analysis … Written in an engaging style, which constantly holds the reader’s attention, de Visser’s monograph makes a decisive contribution to our understanding of the institution of constitutional review in Europe. There is little doubt that it will become a classic reference for the practitioners, academics and students of comparative constitutional law’.Laurent Pech, International Journal of Constitutional Law Blog (ICON-NECT)

Die Edition "Ius Publicum Europaeum" behandelt das Verfassungsrecht und das Verwaltungsrecht im Lichte des gemeinsamen europäischen Rechtsraums. Dargestellt werden die Grundstrukturen der nationalen Verfassungen und deren Wissenschaft in repräsentativ ausgewählten Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union.Der vorliegende Band VII vergleicht die europäische Verfassungsgerichtsbarkeit in der Perspektive des europäischen Rechtsraums. Er untersucht die Strukturen der Organisation, der Richterernennung, der Verfahren und der Argumentations- und Auslegungsmethoden, ihr Wirken in Staat und Gesellschaft, ihre Legitimität oder ihre Rolle in der Gewaltengliederung und komplettiert damit das Bild nach den Länderberichten in Band VI. Zu dieser vergleichenden Perspektive tritt eine Betrachtung hinzu, die das Verhältnis zum EuGH, zum EGMR und zur Venedig-Kommission sowie deren (verfassungsgerichtliche) Funktion beleuchtet. Der Band widmet sich schließlich den Herausforderungen, mit denen sich die Verfassungsgerichtsbarkeit im europäischen Rechtsraum aktuell konfrontiert sieht. Es werden historische, politische und theoretische Grundlagen und dogmatische Grundzüge der Verfassungsgerichtsbarkeit so dargestellt, dass die Diskussion um deren Rolle und weitere Entwicklung in diesem Rechtsraum nachhaltig befruchtet wird.