"Women's rights, the European Court and Supranational Constitutionalism"

This analysis examines supranational constitutionalism in the European Union. In particular, the study focuses on the role of the European Court of Justice in the creation of women’s rights. I examine the interaction between the Court and member state governments in legal integration, and also the integral role that women’s advocates – both individual activists and groups – have played in the development of EU social provisions. The findings suggest that this litigation dynamic can have the effect of fueling the integration process by creating new rights that may empower social actors and EU organizations, with the ultimate effect of diminishing member state government control over the scope and direction of EU law. This study focuses specifically on gender equality law, yet provides a general framework for examining the case law in subsequent legal domains, with the purpose of providing a more nuanced understanding of supranational governance and constitutionalism

Horizontal direct effect of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU

In a number of judgments rendered in 2018, the Court of Justice of the EU decided that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU or at least some of its provisions might have horizontal direct effect. This contribution analyses these recent cases, puts them into perspective and reflects on the possible implications for the horizontal direct effect of the Charter. In particular, it will consider what the rationale is for accepting horizontal direct effect in this case-law, what lessons can be drawn for other Charter provisions and, finally, what relationship is emerging between EU directives and the provisions of the Charter.Dans un certain nombre d’arrêts rendus en 2018, la Cour de justice de l’UE a décidé que la Charte des droits fondamentaux de l’UE ou au moins certaines de ses dispositions pourraient avoir un effet direct horizontal. Cette contribution analyse ces cas récents, les met en perspective et réfléchit aux implications possibles pour l’effet direct horizontal de la Charte. En particulier, il examinera la justification de l’acceptation de l’effet direct horizontal dans cette jurisprudence, quelles leçons peuvent être tirées pour d’autres dispositions de la Charte et, enfin, quelle relation se dessine entre les directives de l’UE et les dispositions de la Charte.En una serie de sentencias dictadas en 2018, el Tribunal de Justicia de la UE decidió que la Carta de los Derechos Fundamentales de la UE o, al menos, algunas de sus disposiciones podrían tener un efecto directo horizontal. Esta contribución analiza estos casos recientes, los pone en perspectiva y reflexiona sobre las posibles implicaciones para el efecto directo horizontal de la Carta. En particular, considerará cuál es la razón para aceptar el efecto horizontal directo en esta jurisprudencia, qué lecciones se pueden extraer para otras disposiciones de la Carta y, finalmente, qué relación está surgiendo entre las directivas de la UE y las disposiciones de la Carta