European Union Research Guide

The legal order created by the European Union shapes our political life and society. Individuals are not merely citizens of their country, town or district; they are also EU citizens. The ABC of EU Law by Prof. Klaus-Dieter Borchardt examines the roots of the European project and its development as a legal order, and is a definitive reference work on the subject. It is intended for interested readers who would like an initial insight into the structure of the European Union and the supporting pillars of the European legal order.

European Constitutional Law uses a distinctive two-part structure to examine the legal foundations and powers of the European Union. Written in a uniquely engaging style, and full of logical explanations and illuminating analyses, Schütze provides students with the means for a sophisticated study of the subject. Extensive diagrams and tables clarify key concepts and processes; and the book's critical approach ensures awareness of the intricacies of European constitutional law. A practical appendix and the author's companion webpage help students to find and read primary and secondary legal sources.

This Nutshell covers the history and growth of the European Union including BREXIT and Beyond. The EU’s legislative procedures, litigating EU law, and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice are explored and explained. Free movement of goods, services, people (including mass migration), capital and technology, the EURO in crisis, and extensive internal Union policies are detailed. This Nutshell also examines EU international trade, foreign investment, and business competition (antitrust) law. New coverage includes the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, the EU Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts, the recent U.S.-EU Data Privacy Framework Agreement, BREXIT’s measurable impacts, and EU defense responses to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly regarding NATO.

The Foundations of European Union Law provides an impressively clear and easily understood account of the constitutional and administrative law of the EU. Hartley examines the institutions, of the EU (including the European Court and the Court of the First Instance), the Union legal system and the major constitutional issues before moving on to the area of administrative law and remedies. This new edition contains full coverage of the European financial crisis and the accession of Croatia to the European Union.

The European Union (EU) is unique. It is not a federal state like the United States of America because its Member States remain independent sovereign nations. Nor is it a purely intergovernmental organisation like the United Nations because the Member States do pool some of their sovereignty—and thus gain much greater collective strength and influence than they could have acting individually. They pool their sovereignty by taking joint decisions through shared institutions such as the European Parliament, which is elected by the EU citizens, and the European Council and the Council, which both represent national governments. They decide on the basis of proposals from the European Commission, which represent the interests of the EU as a whole. But what does each of these institutions do? How do they work together? Who is responsible for what? This booklet sets out the answers. It also gives a brief overview of the agencies and other bodies that are involved in the European Union’s work. The aim is to provide you with a helpful guide to EU decision-making. This publication is a part of a series that explains what the EU does in different policy areas, why the EU is involved and what the results are.

As EU non-majoritarian bodies such as the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the European Central Bank grow in political influence, many have identified the pressing need to keep these bodies accountable to the repositories of the EU’s democratic legitimacy. This collection of essays sheds light on the inherent tension between independence and legitimacy in the EU’s institutional system and explores the options of reconciling the two. Featuring analysis from both legal and political perspectives, the volume assesses whether, to what extent, and how it is possible to control the various EU independent bodies and make them answerable for what they do, while at the same time upholding their independence.

Mathijsen presents an overview of the EU’s institutions, their functions and the substantive law. Covering the whole gambit of EU law, this text is uncluttered by technical references. References to source material accompany the text.

Since the 1957 Rome Treaty, the European Union has changed dramatically—in terms of its composition, scope and depth. Originally established by six Western European States, the EU today [published prior to Brexit] has 28 Members and covers almost the entire European continent; and while initially confined to establishing a “common market”, the EU has come to influence all areas of political, economic and social life. In parallel with this enormous geographic and thematic expansion, the constitutional and legislative principles underpinning the European Union have constantly evolved. This three-volume study aims to provide an authoritative academic treatment of European Union law. Written by leading scholars and practitioners, each chapter offers a comprehensive and critical assessment of the state of the law. Doctrinal in presentation, each volume nonetheless tries to present a broader historical and comparative perspective. Volume I provides an analysis of the constitutional principles governing the European Union. It covers the history of the EU, the constitutional foundations, the institutional framework, legislative and executive governance, judicial protection, and external relations.

Updated twice a year, this work consists of commentaries on the EU’s foundational treaties as well as discussion of relevant case law and subordinate (national) legislation and regulations.

This authoritative text offers a unique balance of comprehensive, detailed coverage in a concise and readable style, providing a critical and thorough analysis of the key principles of the substantive law of the EU. An introductory chapter provides valuable context on the governance of the internal market, its evolution, and the theories behind its key principles. Each of the freedoms is then dealt with in turn, covering goods, persons, services, and capital, before moving on to discuss harmonization, the regulation of the internal market, and its future. Additional useful detail is captured in footnotes, while directed further reading lists provide support for independent study and research.

Part I introduces the history and foundations of the Union’s primary law. Part II looks at the Union's institutions, decision-making procedures and competences. It also deals with the Union judiciary, focusing on direct actions before the Union courts and preliminary references from national courts. The constitutional fundamentals of direct effect and supremacy, effective judicial protection before national courts, general principles of Union law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights are dealt with in Part III. Part IV covers the internal market: free movement of goods, Union citizenship, workers, establishment and services, the services directive, mutual recognition of qualifications, corporate establishment and company law harmonisation. Part V deals with competition law: Articles 101 and 102 TFEU, the enforcement of Union competition rules and other related competition law issues. Part VI then includes a brand new chapter concerned with the EU’s external relations, together with treatment of the legal effects of international agreements entered into by the EU.