The European Union and the Territorial Scope of European Territories

In this paper Professor Ziller addresses the intriguing question of the relationship of the European Union – which is not a state and which has no territory of its own – to the territories of EU Member States. The paper provides a survey of the overseas territories affected and the evolution of the case law of the European Court of Justice on the extent to which the provisions of the EC Treaty apply to the European territories overseas

Les apports de la Constitution pour l’Europe à la Théorie du Fédéralisme

1. De quelques vrais ou faux débats: constitution c. traité; fédération c. confédération. A. Constitution c. traité. B. fédération c. confédération. C. La consécration du droit de sécession. – 2. Les rapports entre les Constitutions nationales et la Constitution pour l’Europe. A. La reconnaissance des structures constitutionnelles nationales et la loyauté vis-à-vis de l’Union. B. Le déplacement de l’article consacrant la primauté. – 3. De quelques autres innovations de la Constitution pour l’Europe. ________________________________________ Malgrat l’aturada del procés de ratificació i l’entrada en vigor després dels resultats dels referèndums francès i holandès, l’autor considera igualment útil continuar analitzant el Tractat pel qual s’institueix una Constitució per a Europa, el qual, a curt o mitjà termini haurà de tornar a tenir un paper decisiu en la construcció europea. Sobre aquesta base analitza el debat sobre si és un tractat o una constitució, sobre si institueix una federació, una confederació o quelcom diferent, i analitza algunes de les seves característiques més rellevants, com ara la consagració d’un dret de secessió dels membres, el reconeixement de les estructures institucionals nacionals i la manera de regular la relació entre els estats i la Unió, el paper del principi de primacia, l’estructura institucional comunitària o algunes particularitats del procés de revisió.This article analyzes the role that in the medium and long term the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe will have eventually in the process of European integration. In spite of the failed results of the French and Dutch referenda for its ratification, the Treaty, claims the author, will readopt a central role in the future of the European Union. From this perspective, the author explores different aspects and features of the Treaty: he firstly deals with the debate about the nature of the Treaty itself, that is, whether it is just a treaty or whether it can be considered a constitution; secondly, the discusses about the possible political directions the Treaty sets for Europe: whether it establishes a path for a federation, a confederation or a third way. Thirdly, the author looks at other central features of the Treaty such as the right of secession of the Member States, the recognition of national institutional structures, the establishment of the European Union’s institutions, the regulation of relations between the European Union and the Member States, and the primacy principle

La función de los conceptos constitucionales de los Estados miembros en la nueva constitución para Europa

Traducido del inglés al castellano por Violeta Ruiz Almendra

Les fondements de l’obligation de motiver en droit de l’Union européenne : un retour aux sources

Cet article explique en quoi l’obligation de motiver est originale en droit de l’Union européenne (UE), pour deux raisons principales. Une obligation générale de motivation de tous les actes, individuels comme de portée générale, a été établie en droit positif dès le traité établissant la Communauté européenne du charbon et de l’acier (CECA), signé en 1951, à une époque où il n’existait dans aucun pays européen un principe comparable. Les fondements de cette obligation sont non seulement l’habituel corollaire du contrôle juridictionnel sur l’exercice des pouvoirs publics, mais aussi une manifestation essentielle du principe de transparence ou publicité, en tant qu’elle oblige les autorités à rendre compte de la manière dont elles accomplissent les tâches dans le respect des objectifs qui leur sont assignés. L’obligation de motiver s’impose non seulement aux institutions, organes et organismes de l’UE, mais aussi aux autorités des États membres dans la mise en œuvre du droit de l’Union.This paper explains how the obligation to provide one’s reasons is innovative in European Union (EU) law, for two main reasons. A general duty to give reasons for all acts, whether individualized or general, was already established in positive law in the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), signed in 1951, at a time when there was no comparable principle in any European country. The basis for this duty is not only the usual corollary of judicial review of the exercise of public authorities but is also an essential expression of the principle of transparency or disclosure to the public, in that it requires authorities to account for the way in which they perform their tasks in accordance with the objectives assigned to them. The duty to give reasons applies not only to the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the EU but also to the authorities of the Member States in the implementation of EU law

A União Europeia como potência global? As alterações do Tratado de Lisboa na política externa e de defesa

Este artigo aborda as alterações que o Tratado de Lisboa introduziu na política externa e de defesa, tendo em conta a gradual alteração do conceito estratégico da União Europeia que pretende transformá-la numa potência global. Começa por enquadrar a intervenção da União Europeia na política internacional, com a adoção de uma política externa e de segurança pelo Tratado de Maastricht. Em seguida, refere as inovações do Tratado de Lisboa nessa política, analisando os aspectos de maior relevo

Le traité de Prüm Une vraie-fausse coopération renforcée dans l’Espace de sécurité de liberté et de justice

The paper is a first critical analysis of the 'Prüm Convention on deepening transfrontier cooperation, amongst others in view of combating terrorism, transfrontier crime, and illegal migration', which was signed by Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Spain on 27 May 2005 and which will enter into force after its ratification by two States. While its scope is clearly in the field of police cooperation of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice of the EU and EC treaties, it has not been adopted according to the reinforced cooperation procedure available under the Nice Treaty. While it represents a progress in the field of police cooperation against the signatory member states, it shows a number of negative aspects. It represents a regression as compared to the - rather insufficient - provisions which would be applicable to the adoption of such measures under the relevant provisions of the EU and EC treaties as it has been adopted after a process behind hidden doors, and this is reflected in a number of clauses of the treaty which may be considered as poorly drafted or even dangerous. The full (French) version of the convention is published as an annex to the paper

The Challenge of Governance in Regional Integration. Key Experiences from Europe

http://www.iue.it/PUB/law05-11.pd