Reflections on the Architecture of the EU after the Treaty of Lisbon: The European Judicial Approach to Fundamental Rights

European Law Journal

Volumn 17, Issue 5, 2011, Pages 595-610

  Morano Foadi, Sonia ^a   Andreadakis, Stelios ^a  

^a OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 79960993452     PISSN: 13515993     EISSN: 14680386     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0386.2011.00568.x     Document Type: Article

References (52)

1. E. Vos, Regional Integration Through Dispute Settlement: The European Union Experience Regional Integration Through Dispute Settlement: The European Union Experience (2005) Working Paper no. 2005-2007, available at (accessed 8 June 2011). See also P. Pescatore, 'The Doctrine of Direct Effect: An Infant Disease of Community Law' 8 European Law Review 157 155-177, 1983
2. G. de Búrca, 'The European Court of Justice and the Evolution of EU Law', in T. Börzel and R. Cichowski (eds), The State of the European Union, Law, Politics and Society (OUP, Oxford, 2003), 48-75
3. M. Dougan, National Remedies before the Court of Justice (Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2004)
4. M. Claes, The National Courts' Mandate in the European Constitution (Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2005)
5. G. De Búrca and J.H.H. Weiler (eds), The European Court of Justice (OUP, Oxford, 2001)
6. A. Dashwood and A. Johnston (eds), The Future of the Judicial System of the European Union (Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2001); A. Arnull, The European Union and its Court of Justice (OUP, Oxford, 1999)
7. M. Maduro Poiares, We the Court (Hart Publishing, Oxford, 1998); R. Dehousse, The European Court of Justice (Macmillan, Basingstoke, 1998)
8. H. Rasmussen, The European Court of Justice (Gadjura, Copenhagen, 1998), A.M. Slaughter, A. Stone Sweet and J.H.H. Weiler (eds), The European Court and National Courts (Hart Publishing, Oxford, 1998).
9. K. Alter and S. Meunier-Aitsahalia, 'Judicial Politics in the European Community', (1994) 26 Comparative Political Studies 535-561, 535-536.
10. T. Koopmans, 'The Future of the Court of Justice of the European Communities', (1991) 11 Yearbook of European Law 15.
11. A. Rosas, 'The European Court of Justice and Fundamental Rights: Yet Another Case of Judicial Activism?' in C. Baudenbacher and H. Bull (eds), European Integration through Interaction of Legal Regimes (IUSEF no. 50, Centre for European law, University of Oslo, Universitetsforlaget, 2007).
12. Case 1/58, Stork & Cie v High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community[1959] ECR English edition 17.
13. Case 26/62, Van Gend & Loos v Netherlands Inland Revenue Administration[1963] ECR 1. Case 6/64, Flaminio Costa v ENEL ECR 585.1964
14. P. Pescatore, 'Les Droits de l'homme et l'intégration Européenne' 4 Cahiers de Droit Européenne 629-673, 657.1968
15. Case 29/69, Stauder v City of Ulm ECR 419.1969
16. Case 11/70, Internationale Handelsgesellschaft MbH v Einfuhr-und Vorratsstelle für Getreide und Futtermittel ECR 1125.1970
17. H. Rasmussen, On Law and Policy in the European Court of Justice (Dordrecht, Martinus Nijhoff, He argues that Nold overruled the previous Court's judgments that only rights growing out of the Member States' common constitutional traditions were protected by Community law.1986), 399
18. J. Nold v Commission of the European Communities ECR 491 at 507.1974
19. Case 36/75, Roland Rutili v Minister for the Interior[1975] ECR 1219 para 32. Case 44/79, Hauer v Land-Rheinland-Pfalz ECR 321 para 15.1979
20. Case C-185/95, Baustahlgewebe GmbH v Commission of the European Communities ECR 8417.1998
21. The most relevant AG Opinions are the following: Opinion of AG Tizzano, Case C-173/99, BECTU[2001] ECR I-4881; Opinion of AG Mischo, Joined Cases C-20/00 and C-64/00, Booker Aquaculture Ltd v Scottish Ministers[2003] ECR I-7411; Opinion of AG Léger in Case C-353/99, P Council v Hautala[2001] ECR I-9565; Opinion of AG Colemer in Case C-466/00, Arben Kaba v Secretary of State for the Home Department[2003] ECR I-2219. The first reference to the Charter by the Court of First Instance was in the Case T-54/99, Max. Mobil Telekommunikation Service GmbH v Commission ECR II-313, paras 48, 57.2002
22. Mannesmannröhren-Werke AG, T-112/98 (20/02/01) [2001] ECR II-00729, Territorio Histórico de Álava, T-77/01, ECR I-02903, Technische Glaswerke Ilmenau GmbH, T-198/01 R (04/04/02), paras 85 and 115, T-177/01 Jégo-Quéré et Cie v Commission (03/05/02) ECR II-2365, paras 42 and 47.2002
23. Case 555/07, Kücükdeveci v Swedex GmbH & Co. KG, Judgment of 19 January 2010, available at (accessed 8 June 2011). For a commentary, see Wiesbrock, Case Note-Case C-555/07, Kücükdeveci v Swedex, Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 19 January 2010, 11 German Law Journal, available at 539-5502010
24. Joined Cases 175/08, 176/08,178/08 and 179/08, Abdulla and others v Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 2 March 2010, not yet reported; Case 578/08, Rhimou Chakroun v Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken, Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 4 March 2010, not yet reported; Case 407/08, P, Knauf Gips KG, formerly Gebrüder Knauf Westdeutsche Gipswerke KG v European Commission, Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 1 July 2010, OJ C 234, 28.8.2010; Case 271/08, Commission v Germany, Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 15 July 2010, OJ C 223, 30 August 2008.
25. As emerged by data collected during interview no. 17.
26. Preamble to Charter and Interview no. 9.
27. Case C-400/10, J. McB v L.E., OJ C 328, 4.12.2010.
28. DEB Deutsche Energiehandels-und Beratungsgesellschaft MbH v Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Case C 279/09, [2010] AII ER (D) 308 (DEC).
29. Case C-208/09, Ilonka Sayn-Wittgenstein v Landeshauptmann von Wien, OJ 2011/C 63/06.2010
30. Volker und Markus Schecke GbR and another v Land Hessen and another All ER (D) 105 (November).[2010]
31. Council Regulation (EC) no. 2201/2003 of 27 November concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters, OJEU, L 338/1.2003
32. It is 'a child's removal or retention where (1) it is in breach of rights of custody acquired by judgment or by operation of law or by an agreement having legal effect under the law of the Member State where the child was habitually resident immediately before the removal or retention; and (2) provided that, at the time of removal or retention, the rights of custody were actually exercised, either jointly or alone, or would have been so exercised but for the removal or retention. Custody shall be considered to be exercised jointly when, pursuant to a judgment or by operation of law, one holder of parental responsibility cannot decide on the child's place of residence without the consent of another holder of parental responsibility.' (Art 2(11) Regulation no. 2201/2003).
33. Guichard v France ECHR 2003-X 714, 2 September Appeal No: 56838/00.2003
34. Zaunegger v Germany, 3 December Appeal No: 22028/04.2009
35. See above note 42, paras 63 and 64.
36. Pescatorius, 'Fundamental Shifts in Fundamental Rights? Some Reflections on DEB', 4th January 2011, Adjudicating Europe: Judicial Developments in European Law, available at (accessed 8 June 2011).
37. See above, note 34, para 28: 'The referring court essentially asks whether the fact that a legal person is unable to qualify for legal aid renders the exercise of its rights impossible in practice in the sense that that legal person would not be able to gain access to a court because it would be impossible for it to make the advance payment in respect of the costs of proceedings and to obtain the assistance of a lawyer.' See also para 29: 'The question referred thus concerns the right of a legal person to effective access to justice and, accordingly, in the context of EU law, it concerns the principle of effective judicial protection.'
38. See above, note 36, paras 30 and 31.
39. Case C-36/02, Omega Spielhallen-und Automatenaufstellung GmbH v Oberbürgermeisterin der Bundesstadt Bonn[2004] ECR I-09609. This case concerns a laser sport game involving the simulation of acts of violence against persons, in particular, the representation of acts of homicide, being banned as an affront to human dignity. In this case, the Court gave preference to dignity as protected in national law (German Constitution) against freedom of services and freedom of movement of goods. Advocate General Stix-Hackl states, 'There is hardly any legal principle more difficult to fathom in law than that of human dignity' (para 74, Opinion of Advocate General Stix-Hackl, Conclusions of 18 March 2004, in Case C-36/02). See also C. Dupre, 'Unlocking Human Dignity: Towards a Theory for the 21st Century', (2009) 2 European Human Rights Law Review 190-206.
40. Case C-168/91, Christos Konstantinidis v Stadt Altensteig-Standesamt and Landratsamt Calw-Ordnungsamt [1993] ECR I-01191; Case C-148/02, Garcia Avello[2003] ECR I-11613; Case C-353/06, Grunkin and Paul ECR I-07639.[2008]
41. See Advocate General Sharpston's Opinion at para 44.
42. Case C-208/09 at para 52, which refers, inter alia, to ECtHR judgments Burghartz v Switzerland of 22 February 1994, Series A no. 280-B, p. 28, 24, and Stjerna v Finland of 25 November 1994, Series A no. 299-B 37, 60,.
43. Case C-353/06, see above, note 53, para 28.
44. See above, note 36, paras 59 and 61.
45. Arguably, this is quite similar to the margin of appreciation applied by the ECtHR. See N. Nic Shuibhne, 'Margins of Appreciation: National Values, Fundamental Rights and EC Free Movement Law', 34(2) European Law Review 230-256.2009
46. H. Rasmussen, On Law and Policy in the European Court of Justice: A Comparative Study in Judicial Policymaking (M. Nijhoff,Dordrecht and Boston and Hingham, 1986), 12.
47. G. de Búrca, note 2, above.
48. G. de Búrca, 'The Language of Rights and European Integration', in J. Shaw and G. More (eds), New Legal Dynamics of European Union (Clarendon Press, Oxford,), at 29-54, 39-43.1995
49. M.P. Maduro, 'The Double Constitutional Life of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union', in T. Hervey and J. Kenner (eds), Economic and Social Rights under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: A Legal Perspective (Hart Publishing, Oregon at, 2003), 5.
50. G. Marks, 'A Third Lens: Comparing European Integration and State Building', in J. Klansen and L. Tilly (eds), European Integration in Social and Historical Perspective (Rowman and Littlefield, Lanham at, 1997), 27.
51. G. Tesauro, Some Thoughts on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (2002), at 8, available at (accessed 8 June 2011).
52. V. Reding, 'The EU's Accession to the European Convention on Human Rights: Towards a Stronger and More Coherent Protection of Human Rights in Europe', Speech at the Hearing of the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee, Brussels, 18 March 2010, available at (accessed 8 June 2011).