Core and periphery in the EU legal space

Abstract

This chapter aims to establish a conceptual framework for analyzing the EU legal space and its core-periphery dynamics, notably the extension of EU legal frameworks and policies beyond the territorial borders of the Union. It investigates how the EU legal space is defined, how its cores and peripheries are structured, and how they interact, evolve, and influence each other. The chapter argues that the EU legal space is not homogeneous but consists of multiple legal, geographical, and policy-based layers. It explores how legal norms extend beyond the EU’s borders, the role of third countries in norm adoption, and the fluidity of core-periphery relationships in shaping European legal integration