Steven Blockmans - Böcker

For years the European Union has been looked on as a potential model for cosmopolitan governance, and enjoyed considerable influence on the global stage. The EU has a uniquely strong and legally binding mission statement to pursue international relations on a multilateral basis, founded on the progressive development of international law. The political vision was for the EU to export its values of the rule of law and sophisticated governance mechanisms to the international sphere.Globalization and the financial crisis have starkly illustrated the limits of this vision, and the EU's dependence on global forces partially beyond the control of traditional provinces of law. This book takes stock of the EU's role in global governance. It asks: to what extent can and does the EU shape and influence the on-going re-ordering of legal processes, principles, and institutions of global governance, in line with its optimistic mission statement?With this ambitious remit it covers the legal-institutional and substantive aspects of global security, trade, environmental, financial, and social governance. Across these topics 23 contributors have taken the central question of the extent of the EU's influence on global governance, providing a broad view across the key areas as well as a detailed analysis of each. Through comparison and direct engagement with each other, the different chapters provide a distinctive contribution to legal scholarship on global governance, from a European perspective.

Representative democracy remains the best available form of government – and the one preferred by most EU citizens, but satisfaction with how it plays out varies greatly across the continent. Among the perceived weaknesses are high levels of political corruption, low resilience to disinformation, and out-of-touch governing elites. Yet there is some hope that direct channels for citizens to express their concerns and preferences, fact-based deliberation in representative bodies and robust mechanisms to hold governments to account can help save European democracy from the onslaught of populism. This volume draws together proposals into a framework reflecting the four cumulative criteria used by modern political theorists to assess the health of a democracy: inclusion, choice, deliberation and impact. Its expert contributors offer pragmatic ideas to strengthen representative democracy at both the national and EU level.

Representative democracy remains the best available form of government – and the one preferred by most EU citizens, but satisfaction with how it plays out varies greatly across the continent. Among the perceived weaknesses are high levels of political corruption, low resilience to disinformation, and out-of-touch governing elites. Yet there is some hope that direct channels for citizens to express their concerns and preferences, fact-based deliberation in representative bodies and robust mechanisms to hold governments to account can help save European democracy from the onslaught of populism. This volume draws together proposals into a framework reflecting the four cumulative criteria used by modern political theorists to assess the health of a democracy: inclusion, choice, deliberation and impact. Its expert contributors offer pragmatic ideas to strengthen representative democracy at both the national and EU level.

Research Handbook on EU Institutional Law offers a critical look into the European Union: its legal foundations, competences and institutions. It provides an analysis of the EU legal system, its application at the national level and the prevalent role of the Court of Justice. Throughout the course of the Handbook the expert contributors discuss whether the European Union is well equipped for the 21st century and the numerous crises it has to handle. They revisit the call for an EU reform made in the Laeken Conclusions in 2001 to verify if its objectives have been achieved by the Treaty of Lisbon and in daily practice of the EU institutions. The book also delves into the concept of a Europe of different speeds, which - according to some - is inevitable in the EU comprising 28 Member States. Overall, the assessment of the changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty is positive, even if there are plenty of suggestions for further reforms to re-fit the EU for purpose.Students and scholars will find this original Handbook to be an invaluable resource, particularly due to its focus on topics for future discussion. Researchers and policy-makers will also benefit from the points raised in this book.Contributors include: F. Amtenbrink, M. Avbelj, M. Bobek, S. Blockmans, A.B. Capik, T. Capeta, M. Claes, D. Curtin, A. Cygan, B. de Witte, M. Everson, K. Gutman, M. Hillebrandt, S.L. Kaleda, M. Kuijer, A. Lazowski, J. Mendes, A. Sikora, K. van Duin, E. Vos

At a critical time for the identity and policy direction of the EU, this Handbook examines the dynamics behind the development of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The Handbook includes chapters from renowned scholars that examine the efficacy and visibility of the EU as a diplomatic, military and civilian actor in a turbulent world. The authors’ original contributions address the impact that existing frameworks, structures and procedures have on the effectiveness of the EU as an international actor and consider the legal challenges to the EU's integrated approach to external action. The Research Handbook on the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy brings together scholars from different areas of law (EU and international law) and from the political science field. The interdisciplinary approach makes it essential reading for scholars of law, political science and international relations. Policymakers and all those with an interest in the workings of the EU’s legal services will also find this an insightful resource.Contributors include: S. Blockmans, M. Broberg, M.E. Cañamares, M. Cremona, A. de Ruijter, E. Denza, H. Dijkstra, S. Duke, C. Eckes, D. Fiott, J. Heliskoski, C. Hillion, A.E. Juncos, U. Khaliq, J. Klabbers, T. Konstadinides, P. Koutrakos, D. Mantzari, S. Marquardt, J. Odermatt, A. Ott, A. Skordas, G. Van Der Loo, P. Van Elsuwege, R.A. Wessel

The European Union has a democracy problem. The polycrisis that has plagued the EU for years has led to a cacophony of voices calling for fundamental change to the integration project. Yet despite the shock of the Brexit referendum and the electoral upsets caused by nativist parties across the continent, few of the plans for EU reform include concrete proposals to address the perennial democratic deficit. This volume looks at how the relationship between citizens, the state and EU institutions has changed in a multi-layered Union. As such, it focuses more on polity than on populism, and does not engage deeply with policy or output legitimacy. Building on the notion of increasing social, economic and political interdependence across borders, this book asks whether a sense of solidarity and European identity can be rescued from the bottom up by empowering citizens to ‘take back control’ of their Union.Direct Democracy in the EU: The Myth of a Citizens’ Union is part of the ‘Towards a Citizens’ Union’ project and is the product of collaboration with 20 renowned think tanks from the European Policy Institutes Network (EPIN). It is the first of three publications that will also cover the state of representative democracy in the EU and the accountability of democratic institutions.

Representative democracy is beset by a crisis of legitimacy across the world, but in Europe this crisis is compounded by the inadequacy of national governments to address citizens’ frustrations and to achieve transnational unity on common issues. How representative are national parliaments in their decision-making on EU matters?This volume investigates the relationship between the democratic institutions of the member states and those of the EU. With a focus on polity rather than policy, it looks at voting and decision-shaping mechanisms in selected member states, in particular the ‘Europeanisation’ of representative democracy at national level. It also assesses the state of parliamentary democracy at the EU level. Expert analysts share their insights into the changing nature of our political eco-systems and the (dis)connections within and between them.Representative Democracy in the EU: Recovering Legitimacy is part of the ‘Towards a Citizens’ Union’ project co-funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme. It is the product of collaboration with 20 renowned think tanks from the European Policy Institutes Network (EPIN). This volume follows the first in the series, Direct Democracy in the EU: The Myth of a Citizens’ Union. A third and final publication will offer ideas for how democratic institutions and processes can meet the challenges facing Europe today.

Representative democracy is beset by a crisis of legitimacy across the world, but in Europe this crisis is compounded by the inadequacy of national governments to address citizens’ frustrations and to achieve transnational unity on common issues. How representative are national parliaments in their decision-making on EU matters?This volume investigates the relationship between the democratic institutions of the member states and those of the EU. With a focus on polity rather than policy, it looks at voting and decision-shaping mechanisms in selected member states, in particular the ‘Europeanisation’ of representative democracy at national level. It also assesses the state of parliamentary democracy at the EU level. Expert analysts share their insights into the changing nature of our political eco-systems and the (dis)connections within and between them.Representative Democracy in the EU: Recovering Legitimacy is part of the ‘Towards a Citizens’ Union’ project co-funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme. It is the product of collaboration with 20 renowned think tanks from the European Policy Institutes Network (EPIN). This volume follows the first in the series, Direct Democracy in the EU: The Myth of a Citizens’ Union. A third and final publication will offer ideas for how democratic institutions and processes can meet the challenges facing Europe today.

The European Union concentrates on the three main areas of European integration that mark the career path of Alfred E. Kellermann. Part I covers institutional and constitutional aspects, Part II general principles and substantive aspects and Part III new Member States and Eastern Europe. The contributions included in this Liber Amicorum vary from thematic in-depth studies to studies of a comparative nature. Their themes include, inter alia, the structure of the Union according to the Constitution for Europe, the changes and challenges with which the Union's institutions are faced, the future paths of flexibility (enhanced cooperation, partial agreements and pioneer groups), the role of national competition authorities and national courts under Regulation 1/2003, the constitutional preparation for EU accession in the new Member States, and the influence of European integration on the development of law in Russia.

With a foreword by Atzo Nicolaï, Minister for European Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands On 29 October 2004, the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe was signed by the leaders of the 25 Member States of the European Union. This event marked the end of the discussion rounds to amend the treaties on which the European Union is founded. Yet, the debate on the Constitution was far from over when on 29 May and 1 June 2005 the French and the Dutch voters rejected the Treaty. Politicians and lawyers are now confronted with the question of how to proceed and how to go forward. In October 2004, the T.M.C. Asser Institute in The Hague, The Netherlands, organized the 34th Session of its Asser Institute Colloquium on European Law, which was entitled ‘The EU Constitution: The best way forward?’. During the Conference some 50 experts from the 25 Member States, from candidate, potential candidate and neighbouring countries, as well as from the US and Russia focused on key topics like: the process and impact of EU constitution-making, the democratic life of the EU, improving the efficiency and quality of legislation in the EU, the expansion of executive, judicial and legislative powers, and the access to justice. In anticipation of the developments after the signing of the Treaty, three eminent speakers – Prof. Joseph Weiler (New York University), Professor Bruno de Witte (European Institute in Florence) and Professor Jo Shaw (University of Manchester), elaborated on many answers in case of a ratification crisis. This book contains the proceedings of the three-day Conference and includes, next to the papers of the speakers and commentators, reports of the discussions on each topic and the texts of two keynote speeches. A keyword Index and a List of Articles (of the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe, the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty Establishing the European Community) greatly enhance the accessibility of the rich materials. The book will be of great help and interest to political leaders, members of parliament, international lawyers and European citizens in formulating answers to the questions that have risen after the rejection of the Treaty by the French and Dutch voters and give powerful impulses to the continuing debate and efforts to arrive at a generally accepted Constitution for Europe. Deirdre Curtin is Professor of European and International Governance at Utrecht School of Governance, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Alfred E. Kellermann is Senior Legal and Policy Advisor and Visiting Professor in the law of the EU at the T.M.C. Asser Institute and Steven Blockmans is a Senior Researcher in the law of the EU at the T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands.

The European Union and Its Neighbours is the first legal appraisal of relations between the European Union and all the countries on its geographical borders. In the wake of its biggest enlargement to date, the EU faces a multitude of old and new opportunities and challenges on its borders: new markets, but also violent or frozen conflicts, terrorism, mass illegal migration, cross-border illegal trafficking of various kinds, the disruption of the flow of vital energy sources, etc. This book looks at the European Union as it transforms its existing neighbourhood policies towards all its geographical neighbours. As such, the analysis extends to legal, political and economic developments in the European Union’s relations with countries as diverse as Croatia, Iceland, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.The authors together lay out the unique jigsaw puzzle of actions, policies and agreements, depicting the EU’s policies towards its ‘ring of friends’ and offering ideas to strengthen the EU’s position internationally. The book is divided into two parts. The first part questions the identity and borders of the EU, the multilevel complexity of the EU’s external relations regime, and the evolving nature of the conditions for EU membership. The relations with individual countries or groups of states are analysed in the second part of the book.Steven Blockmans (T.M.C. Asser Institute) and Adam Lazowski (University of Westminster) are senior researchers in EU law who have built up extensive experience in consulting and teaching in the EU’s neighbouring countries. With the support of a multinational team of experts, the editors have compiled a comprehensive and well-structured overview of the relations between the European Union and its neighbours.

With a Foreword by Jaap de ZwaanOn 1 May 2004, ten countries joined the European Union as Member States. In that same year, five other countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and Turkey) had or received (pre-)candidate country status. EU accession requires a great number of adaptations in the laws and policies of a country. In order to analyse the impact of these developments and support the countries concerned, the T.M.C. Asser Institute in The Hague initiated a project originally entitled ‘The impact of EU accession for the acceding Member States and (pre-)candidate countries’. The project, which was approved by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and financed under the Ministry’s Matra Programme, started at the beginning of 2003 and concluded during the Dutch EU presidency with a final conference in The Hague in October 2004.In preparation for this conference, a group of distinguished experts from the fifteenparticipating countries analysed, according to identical guidelines, the impact of accession on the organization of their national governments, parliaments and judiciaries, as well as on their national constitutions. Their research activities resulted in fifteen country reports offering a multitude of interesting insights, views and experiences. In 2005, the reports were updated by the authors and editors of this book, so that they could be made available to the wider public. As a comparative study of fifteen countries, it is an excellent guide for the preparation of the national legal orders for EU accession, for briefing and training civil servants, judges, practitioners, officials of international organizations and academics, and for post-graduate students.The multi-country research project was carried out by, and under the guidance of, Alfred E. Kellermann, T.M.C. Asser Institute, Jenö Czuczai, European Law Academy Budapest, Steven Blockmans,T.M.C. Asser Institute, and Anneli Albi, University of Kent. They also formed the editing team of the book, which was further complemented by Wybe Th. Douma, T.M.C. Asser Institute.

The European Union is traditionally seen as a new and partly separate legal order within the global legal system. At the same time, the EU is an important player in the global governance network. The strong and explicit link between the EU and a large number of other international organisations raises questions concerning the impact of decisions taken by those organisations and of international agreements concluded with those organisations (either by the EU itself or by its Member States) on the autonomy of the EU legal order. This book addresses the relationship between the EU and other international organisations by looking at the increasing influence of norms enacted by international organisations on the shaping of EU law.