Research Handbook on EU Institutional Law

Research Handbooks in European Law series

Edited by Adam Łazowski, University of Westminster, UK and Steven Blockmans, Professor of EU External Relations Law and Governance, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Head of EU Foreign Policy, CEPS, Belgium

Research Handbook on EU Institutional Law offers a critical look into the European Union: its legal foundations, competences and institutions. It provides an analysis of the EU legal system, its application at the national level and the prevalent role of the Court of Justice. Throughout the course of the Handbook the expert contributors discuss whether the European Union is well equipped for the 21st century and the numerous crises it has to handle. They revisit the call for an EU reform made in the Laeken Conclusions in 2001 to verify if its objectives have been achieved by the Treaty of Lisbon and in daily practice of the EU institutions. The book also delves into the concept of a Europe of different speeds, which - according to some - is inevitable in the EU comprising 28 Member States. Overall, the assessment of the changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty is positive, even if there are plenty of suggestions for further reforms to re-fit the EU for purpose.

‘Adam Lazowski and Steven Blockmans edit the Handbook and author the first chapter. Other authors address (for example) EU competence issues (Claes and de Witte), national parliaments and subsidiarity (Cygan), the need for reform of the EU judiciary (Capeta), and preliminary rulings (Bobek). Overall the approach is analytical and critical, pulls no punches, and does not hesitate to address key contemporary debate around the legitimacy of the EU project, and its institutions. This is the right book at the right time, and a “must-have” for those engaged in advanced study, research or the teaching of EU law.’
– Derrick Wyatt QC, St Edmund Hall, Oxford, UK