Reaching a compromise when it comes to efficiency on the one hand, and humanitarian concerns on the other, might result in an utterly complex task. The decisional course followed by the ECJ in the context of the Bouskoura case seems to corroborate this assumption.

This post outlines that the EU has elevated climate interests above “environmental” ones, and it reconstructs the process that led to radical legal changes.

This post discusses Cases C-808/21 and C-814/21, where the Court affirms the Portuguese Judges case methodology for rule of law enforcement, paving the way for a further substantiation and enforcement of the value of democracy in the future.  

This post contributes to the debate on the CJEU’s case against Malta’s ‘Citizenship-by-Investment’ scheme, arguing that while no genuine link is required for EU citizenship, Member States’ nationality policies must not undermine internal market objectives.

This post discusses Case C-21/23 and analyses the potential risks that the Court's interpretation poses to consistent enforcement of the GDPR and to potential overexpansion of the concept of sensitive data.

The Dutch Advertising Code Committee interprets the AVMSD unduly narrowly, allowing for the advertising of environmentally harmful products and services. The Committee’s self-regulatory nature and its understanding of the freedom of commercial expression are highly problematic.

This article examines the legal and cultural conflict between France and Italy over meat substitutes and lab-grown meat. It explores EU harmonization issues, Member States' opposition, and the broader ethical and economic implications for the future of food regulation in Europe.

This post argues that despite CJEU rulings, key GDPR data transfer rules for foreign firms remain unclear, and a decisive CJEU ruling is needed to resolve this issue.

This post argues that the Mirin case, on Legal Gender Recognition, features an interesting element of judicial rhetoric from the CJEU: a judicial aparte within the ruling, to implicitly signal its position on much wider questions than the ones presented in the case.

This post critiques the Court of Justice’s workplace discrimination rulings and advocates reform, starting with the Pay Transparency Directive to address intersectional non-discrimination in EU law.

This post discusses EU-Swiss treaty negotiations, highlighting the need for ECJ involvement when interpreting EU law.

This post considers the role of the EU Pilot procedure in enforcing EU environmental law and discusses, based on data spanning the EU Pilot’s operational period, its dwindling use in enforcing the environmental acquis.

Paying attention to the CJEU’s recent judgment KS&KD, this post argues that the CJEU’s jurisdiction for damages claims is not capable of changing the prosperities of the EU’s accession to the ECHR.

This post explores the Court of Justice’s ruling in KS and KD v Council, expanding its jurisdiction in Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) matters while balancing judicial oversight with strategic political decisions, especially regarding human rights in EU missions.

This post examines the Court's rejection of the Commission's Article 22 referral policy in the Illumina case. The judgment restricts the Commission's power to review mergers below the thresholds, highlighting the need to reconsider its approach to closing the enforcement gap.

The post discusses WS v. Frontex and its appeal, focusing on clarifying Frontex's human rights obligations. It offers a fresh perspective on how the CJEU may balance fundamental rights and Frontex’s limited powers in conducting lawful Return Operations with Member States.

The Western Sahara conflict faces new scrutiny in the EU. The CJEU's imminent ruling on EU-Morocco trade deals may redefine EU external relations, raising legal questions on sovereignty and international law.

This post examines the TAP Portugal judgment within the broader framework of consumer protection, arguing for the necessity of EU courts and regulators to reassess these standards and offer clearer guidance to ensure a fair balance of rights and interests.

The ECtHR held that States have a human rights obligation to mitigate the climate crisis. It heavily relied on the Aarhus Convention to broaden standing of environmental associations but noted in passing that it is not applicable to climate litigation. We disprove this statement.

In July 2024, a French startup filed the first-ever application for a novel food authorisation of a cultivated meat product in the EU. We discuss the potential for “legal disruption” considering the controversial debate on the societal and economic impact of this technology.

[Deadline: 15 July 2025] The open access journal "ERDAL", European Review of Digital Administration & Law, is pleased to announce its upcoming special issue on the topic of oversight of automated public administration

The Institute for the Study of European Laws (ISEL) warmly invites you to the following upcoming events. Use the "Book Your Place" button to view the full event details and register your attendance.

[Deadline: 31 December 2024] The event aims to foster interdisciplinary discussions by bringing together practitioners, scholars, and experts to explore various aspects of sanctions in international and European law, politics, and economics.

[Deadline: 31 December 2024] Interdisciplinary two-day workshop at SCEUS on May 15-16, 2025, offering PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers in law, economics, and political science the opportunity to present their research

Invitation to submit contributions on current case law

[13 December 2024] This workshop in Amsterdam brings together academics and practitioners to identify and creatively think about legal opportunity structures in EU law to challenge insufficient EU climate action before the EU courts.

[Deadline: 1 December 2024] - A €300 prize will be awarded to the early-career author of the best blog post submitted between 1 September and 1 December 2024.

[29 November 2024] Seminar on the 'identity' of constitutional orders in the national and European context, held at Tilburg University

[28-29 November 2024] The 2024 ACELG conference offers a multi-disciplinary reflection upon the nature of the security threats that Europe faces and the meanings and merits of Europe’s ‘geopolitical awakening’.

[Deadline: 31 October 2024] Call for papers for a workshop organised by the WU Vienna University of Economics and Business in Vienna, Austria on 16-17 January 2025

[20 November 2024] This special issue aims to explore the profound and lasting impact of these foundational documents on the development of human rights, security, and European integration, while also critically examining the current challenges they face.

[7-8 November 2024] The University of Luxembourg is organizing this conference, which is dedicated to presenting the findings of the CRIM_AI project, an initiative launched in October 2021 and set to conclude in February 2025, funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund.

[17-18 October 2024] DILLAN workshop “Navigating the Future Frontiers of AI Law and Governance”

[16 October 2024] The workshop will discuss various aspects and effects of the CJEU’s reforms and outline further research agendas.

[Deadline: 01 October 2024] The philosophy of Trade, Law and Development (TL&D) has been to generate and sustain a constructive and democratic debate on emergent issues in international economic law and to serve as a forum for the discussion and distribution of ideas.