1,720,986 research outputs found
The impact of the Troika’s austerity measures on the Portuguese labour law system: a general assessment of the scope of social sovereignty in the light of the Constitutional Tribunal Case Law
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Principi giurisprudenziali e nuove iniziative della Commissione in materia di patient mobility nell’Unione Europea: un piccolo (o grande?) terremoto è in atto
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The Portuguese Constitutional Court case law on austerity measures: a reappraisal
No full textIn different cases in these last years, the Portuguese Constitutional Tribunal (PCT) has reviewed the legality on some of the austerity measures agreed with (but effectively imposed by) the Trojka – the European Commission (Commission), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – as conditions for the release of the loan package granted to Portugal in May 2011. As it is well-known, some of those austerity measures have been declared unconstitutional. This paper tries to shed some light on a number of questions, both theoretical and practical, to which those judgments give rise.
The jurisprudence of the PCT raises crucial issues which the constitutional courts of EU Member States will certainly need to address in the future: what is the boundary between judicial activism and the judicial recognition of fundamental social rights as a remedy to the legislature’s minimalism in ensuring the protection of those rights? When can legislative action, insofar as resulting from the democratic process, no longer be regarded as the best way to secure that the rights of citizens are safeguarded? To what extent can judges require the legislature to take social rights ‘seriously’?
In this regard, we believe that, even though judges obviously do not create the law, they should be active – rather than activist or creative – agents of change whenever constitutional rights are put at risk by national legislation – whether or not the latter is the result of an international obligation or constraint – in order to behave as guardians of last resort for citizens’ fundamental rights.In different cases in these last years, the Portuguese Constitutional Tribunal (PCT) has reviewed the legality on some of the austerity measures agreed with (but effectively imposed by) the Trojka – the European Commission (Commission), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – as conditions for the release of the loan package granted to Portugal in May 2011. As it is well-known, some of those austerity measures have been declared unconstitutional. This paper tries to shed some light on a number of questions, both theoretical and practical, to which those judgments give rise.
The jurisprudence of the PCT raises crucial issues which the constitutional courts of EU Member States will certainly need to address in the future: what is the boundary between judicial activism and the judicial recognition of fundamental social rights as a remedy to the legislature’s minimalism in ensuring the protection of those rights? When can legislative action, insofar as resulting from the democratic process, no longer be regarded as the best way to secure that the rights of citizens are safeguarded? To what extent can judges require the legislature to take social rights ‘seriously’?
In this regard, we believe that, even though judges obviously do not create the law, they should be active – rather than activist or creative – agents of change whenever constitutional rights are put at risk by national legislation – whether or not the latter is the result of an international obligation or constraint – in order to behave as guardians of last resort for citizens’ fundamental rights.Refereed Working Papers / of international relevanc
The German Federal Constitutional Court’s Exercise of Ultra Vires Review and the Possibility to Open an Infringement Action for the Commission
Get PDFThe paper examines the possible opening of an infringement procedure against Germany as a result of the breaches that emerge from the declaration by the German Constitutional Court that the Court of Justice has acted ultra vires in the Weiss judgment (C-493/17). The proportionality assessment of the Public Sector Purchase Programme (PSPP) of the European Central Bank (ECB), carried by the Court of Justice, is contested by the domestic court. We recall that the Commission enjoys great discretion regarding the launch of an infringement action based upon Article 258 of the TFEU and may be reluctant to use its powers, considering the special position of the constitutional courts in the context of Article 267 TFEU as well as the present situation of emergency following the pandemic. Yet, the possibility to start an infringement procedure for breaches of Treaty obligations resulting from an incorrect interpretation of domestic courts was admitted in case C-129/00 Commission v. Italy and applied in two subsequent cases (C-154/08 Commission v. Spain and C-416/17 Commission v. France). As a result of the ruling of May 5, 2020, the Court of Justice may find that Germany failed to fulfil obligations stemming from Article 267 TFEU and the related case-law, Article 19 TEU, as well as Article 5(2) TEU. Other breaches concern the independence of the ECB and of the Bundesbank (being it a Member of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and of the Eurosystem) as defined in Articles 130, 282(3) TFEU and Article 7 of the Protocol (No. 4) on the Statute of the ESCB and of the ECB. We argue in favour of the violation of all these provisions read in conjunction with the duty of loyal cooperation, laid down in Article 4(3) TEU. Yet, we conclude that it is uncertain whether the Commission will open (or continue) an infringement procedure against Germany since the Bundesbank may act to satisfy the requests of the German Constitutional Court in relation to the proportionality of the PSPP. It is to be hoped that the German State organs will make sure that the PSPP may be continued, thus ensuring the functioning of the Eurozone, despite the attack of the BVerfG to the EU Judicature and to Weiss ruling in particular
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Democracy in the EMU in the Aftermath of the Crisis
No full textThe book covers some of the major issues concerning the problematic relationship between respect for democratic principles and the new European Economic Governance. Innovative approaches are highlighted throughout the book: new frameworks and arrangements are proposed on the basis of efficiency analyses, as well as their institutional and legal suitability. Though the perspective adopted is essentially a legal one, the economic and policy background are also given due consideration.
The papers presented here offer a balanced mix of empirical (including comparative) and theoretical analysis; several also combine the two approaches, carrying out empirical analyses, then setting the results against theoretical options. Given the relative dearth of literature on democratic principles and the EMU, let alone a comprehensive enquiry, the book marks a valuable new contribution
Diritto del Mercato Unico Europeo e dello Spazio di Libertà, Sicurezza e Giustizia [5 ed.]
No full textIl manuale presenta un quadro degli aspetti principali del cd. diritto materiale dell’Unione europea. In esso sono esaminati anzitutto i contenuti fondamentali del Mercato unico europeo: la cittadinanza dell’Unione, le libertà di circolazione (merci, persone, servizi e capitali), le regole di concorrenza applicabili alle imprese (i divieti di intese e di sfruttamento abusivo delle posizioni dominanti) e la disciplina degli aiuti pubblici alle imprese. Il manuale illustra le notevoli novità che si sono avute in questi settori e che si configurano come sviluppi di un percorso ormai consolidato da anni. Sono inoltre trattate le materie riunite nel concetto di “Spazio di libertà, sicurezza e giustizia” (SLSG): immigrazione e asilo, cooperazione giudiziaria nel campo civile e penale. Infine, viene descritto il quadro giuridico dell’Unione economica e monetaria (UEM)
Diritto del Mercato Unico Europeo e dello Spazio di Libertà Sicurezza e Giustizia
No full textIl presente manuale presenta un quadro degli aspetti principali del cd. "diritto materiale" dell'Unione europea. In esso sono esaminati anzitutto i contenuti fondamentali di quella importantissima ma ancor oggi misconosciuta realizzazione che è il Mercato unico europeo: la cittadinanza dell'Unione, le libertà di circolazione (merci, persone, servizi e capitali), le regole di concorrenza applicabili alle imprese (i divieti di intese e di sfruttamento abusivo delle posizioni dominanti) e la disciplina degli aiuti pubblici alle imprese. A partire da questa III edizione, sono inoltre trattate le materie riunite nel concetto di Spazio di libertà, sicurezza e giustizia: immigrazione e asilo, cooperazione giudiziaria nel campo civile e penale. Infine viene descritto il quadro giuridico dell'Unione economica e monetaria (UEM)
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