Tanja Ehnert - Böcker

This book investigates the role of law in confronting major societal transformations embodied by the emergence of nanotechnologies. Taking the case of the European Union, it explores who the key decision-makers in the regulation of nanotechnologies are and how they take decisions. The questions are explored through two distinct case studies: the food and chemicals sectors. The book charts an incremental retreat of the European Union to its executive powers, including ‘soft law’ measures such as agencies’ guidelines or implementing measures. This, the author argues, results in the Union’s fundamental democratic control mechanisms, the EU legislature and the Court of Justice of the EU, being circumvented. The book recommends several immediate proposals to reform EU risk regulation, advocating a greater reliance on the European Parliament and outlining measures to increase the transparency of guidance drafting by EU agencies. This important work provides a timely examination of how emerging technologies pose both regulatory and democratic challenges.

This book investigates the role of law in confronting major societal transformations embodied by the emergence of nanotechnologies. Taking the case of the European Union, it explores who the key decision-makers in the regulation of nanotechnologies are and how they take decisions. The questions are explored through two distinct case studies: the food and chemicals sectors. The book charts an incremental retreat of the European Union to its executive powers, including ‘soft law’ measures such as agencies’ guidelines or implementing measures. This, the author argues, results in the Union’s fundamental democratic control mechanisms, the EU legislature and the Court of Justice of the EU, being circumvented. The book recommends several immediate proposals to reform EU risk regulation, advocating a greater reliance on the European Parliament and outlining measures to increase the transparency of guidance drafting by EU agencies. This important work provides a timely examination of how emerging technologies pose both regulatory and democratic challenges.

This book is a seminal study of the European Ombudsman, focusing on current challenges and future developments by its leading expert commentators.This open access volume traces the evolution of the European Ombudsman over its first almost three decades. Its focus however lies on the current challenges and future perspectives of this ever-innovative EU institution. It brings together leading voices from academia, EU institutions, civil society, and the European Ombudsman’s office. It highlights developments and future potential in several salient fields, from data infrastructure and digital platforms over environmental protection and border protection agencies to revolving doors and industry lobbying. The collection’s breadth of study and depth of expertise will mean this is required reading for scholars of EU law, from both a constitutional and consumer law perspective.The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the European University Institute.