Constitutional Courts and European Integration

by European Commission for Democracy through Law

2005 · Council of Europe

In a continent where a majority of states are members of the European Union, the supremacy of law can no longer be understood without respect for the supremacy of supranational law. The implementation of this basic principle, deriving from the European Community legal order, from a constitutional point of view poses problems which have not been resolved in a uniform manner. This volume contains seventeen reports which demonstrate how these issues have been dealt with by different legal Systems in Europe.

Collected Courses of the Academy of European Law

by Academy of European Law (Florence, Italy), Academy of European Law Staff

1997 · Kluwer Law International B.V.

The Academy of European Law was established by the European University Institute in 1990 and extends the Institute's current programmes into a larger field of interest. It has as its main activity the holding of annual Summer Courses in the law of the European Community and the protection of human rights in Europe. In addition to General Courses, shorter courses are held on subjects of special academic and practical interest in both fields. Finally, special guest lectures on topical issues are given by policy makers, judges and persons who have held or currently hold the highest position in these fields. The courses are published in the language in which they were delivered (English and French).

European Yearbook of Minority Issues

by European Centre for Minority Issues Staf

2003 · Martinus Nijhoff Publishers

2001-May 2002 Sally Holt.

Mechanisms for the Implementation of Minority Rights

by European Centre for Minority Issues

2004 · Council of Europe

This book, the second in the series of publications on minority issues, examines the political and legal mechanisms available at European and international levels for the implementation of minority rights standards. Chapters cover the following topics: the concept of international minority rights; UN treaty monitoring bodies, particularly the Human Rights Committee; the UN Working Group on Minorities; the International Court of Justice; the European Court of Human Rights; the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities; the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages; the CSCE/OSCE mechanism for protection of minority rights; EU standards and mechanisms for the protection of minorities and the prevention of discrimination; bilateral agreements and their implementation.

The European Union and Russia

by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. European Union Committee

2008 · The Stationery Office

The relationship between the European Union and Russia has been going through a difficult phase with disputes over energy supplies, foreign policy issues, and tension between Russia and individual Member States. The change of presidency in Russia provides an opportunity to take stock and to consider whether this deterioration can and should be reversed. Russian politicians emphasise the importance of the relationship. This report discusses how the relationship might be developed in practice. The report examines Russia as a European country, its recent history, and the current economic situation in Russia. It then considers the institutional framework for Russia-EU relations, including the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. The Committee believes closer co-operation should be fostered in several areas of common interest: economic, freedom, security and justice, research and education and culture. Energy is an important subject: there are concerns about whether Russia can supply sufficient gas and oil to meet its current and foreseeable domestic demand and international commitments. The security of energy supply to the EU is vital. The Russian view of international security issues is also very different from that of the West, and developments in the near neighbourhood of Russia are a very sensitive geopolitical area. Russian support for Serbia is contrasted with their co-operation on Iran. The two sides work together usefully on the Middle East, terrorism, non-proliferation, and other issues. The EU should continue and strengthen its efforts to reach common ground with the Russians on such international issues, but should also speak out if the Russian government falls short of the standards it has formally accepted in a number of international agreements.

The Right to a Fair Trial

by European Commission for Democracy through Law, Council of Europe

2000 · Council of Europe

The right to a fair trial is a fundamental element of legal systems. Guaranteed by national constitutions and the European Convention on Human Rights, it ensures the effectiveness of law against arbitrary acts of the authorities. The reports which appear in this volume were presented in Brno, at a seminar on European constitutional heritage, in which judges from constitutional courts and other equivalent bodies from approximately 20 countries participated. They show the convergence of approaches, in Europe and on other continents, and the universal nature of rights protected by a fair trial.