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What are the basic principles underlying European Community Law? Although no
one seeks a purely descriptive answer to this question, the discussion it
gives rise to is of immense significance both for theoretical legal studies
and for legal practice. Over the years, scholars have convened from time to
time to re-examine the question in the light of new developments. This
important volume offers insights and findings of the latest such conference,
held at Stockholm in March 2007, and sponsored by the Swedish Network for
European Legal Studies. The nineteen essays here printed are all final
author-edited versions of papers first presented at that conference.
Far from merely an updating of the First Edition, which marked a 1999
conference held under the same auspices at Malmö, this book is entirely new.
It underscores the importance of discovering the emergence of new general
principles—linked, indeed, to such fundamental continuing concerns as
democracy, accountability, transparency, direct effect, good administration,
and European citizenship—as they develop in such increasingly important areas
as the following:
• core aspects of competition and financial integration law;
• the ongoing process of European constitutionalization;
• the application of general principles in the new Member States;
• the growth of European private law;
• the successive creation of a jus commune europaeum; and
• the instrumental function of the EC Court.
There is also special consideration attached to such overriding issues as the
gap-filling function of the principles within the Community legal system, and
the implications of the use of a comparative methodology. The authors include
both eminent, well-known experts, many of whom took part in the 1999
Conference, and representatives of a new generation of younger scholars in the
field. For the myriad parties involved in the evolution of the European
project from a legal perspective, this book serves as a watershed, a thorough
inspection of the foundations as they are perceived and understood at the
present moment. It is sure to be consulted and cited often in the years to
come.
Preface.
1: Constitutional Law. 1.1. Is Direct Effect a General Principle of
European Law? J. Bengoetxea. 1.2. Two Twin-Principles of EU Law:
Democracy and Accountability, Consistency and Convergence; W. van Gerven.
1.3. The Principle of Legal Certainty as a General Principle of EU
Law; J. Raitio. 1.4. Article 10 EC: The Most Important ‘General
Principle’ of Community Law; J. T. Lang. 1.5. The Judicial
Deficit in the EC: Knocking on Heaven’s Door? O. Zetterquist.
2: Private Law. 2.1. Structural Measures in EC Competition Law: A
Bridge Too Far? L. Henriksson. 2.2. Are There General Principles
of Community Law Affecting Private Law? X. Groussot, H.H. Lidgard.
2.3. Contribution of General Principles to EC Financial Market
Integration; S. M. Seyad. 2.4. Summary: Are There Any General
Principles in Private Law? D. Eklöf, L. Pehrson.
3: Administrative Law. 3.1. Transparency: A General Principle of EU
Law? S. Prechal, M.E. de Leeuw. 3.2. Between Supremacy
and Autonomy: Applying the Principle of Good Administration in the Member
States; J. Reichel. 3.3. Summary of the Discussion; J.
Reichel, M.E. de Leeuw.
4: Future Developments. 4.1. Constitutional Rights versus Supremacy of
EC Law in the New Member States: Ironies in the Light of the Pre-Accession
Conditionality; A. Albi. 4.2. Some Further Reflections on the
Development of General Principles of Law within Article 10 EC; L.W. Gormley.
4.3. ‘Principled Citizenship’ and the Process of European
Constitutionalization: From a Pie in the Sky to a Sky with Diamonds; X.
Groussot. 4.4. General Principles of EU Law: The Methodological
Challenge; M. Herdegen. 4.5. Application of General Principles
of EC Law by Polish Courts: Is the European Court of Justice Receiving a
Positive Feedback? D. Miasik. 4.6. General Principles and
National Law: A Continuing Two-Way Process; J.A. Usher.
5: Summary of the Conference. 5.1. General Principles: Some
Reflections on their Development in the 21st Century; J. Nergelius.
6. About the Authors.