Sonia Sotomayors geliebte Welt – und das, was wir von unseren Verfassungsrichter/innen erwarten können

Selbstdisziplin im Rampenlicht Kurz nachdem im Alter von fünf Jahren Diabetes bei Sonia Sotomayor festgestellt wird, ist sie zu Hause Zeuge eines heftigen Streits ihrer Eltern. An lautstarke Auseinandersetzungen ist sie zwar gewöhnt, aber diesmal ist es etwas anderes, weil sie selbst Anlass der Auseinandersetzung ist. Keiner der Eltern kann sich überwinden, der kleinen Sonia die Insulinspritzen zu verabreichen. Um dem familiären Zwist ein Ende zu bereiten, beschließt sie, es einfach selbst zu tun. Das Spritzen, aber auch das lange Warten, bis die Spritze ausgekocht und wieder abgekühlt sind, werden für Sonja Sotomayor zur Schule einer Disziplin, die sie von ... continue reading

6. Juni 2014

Der Europäische Rat ist verpflichtet, Juncker vorzuschlagen

Die Position von Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel, "jetzt alle Gespräche genau in diesem Geiste (zu führen), dass Jean-Claude Juncker auch Präsident der Europäischen Kommission werden sollte" ist nicht nur politisch angemessen, sondern europarechtlich und verfassungsrechtlich geboten.

6. Juni 2014

Why the Council is under a legal duty to propose Juncker as a Commission President

The German Chancellor has stated that she would “conduct all negotiations with a view to ensuring that Claude Juncker becomes President”. But the qualifications she continues to make suggest that she very much remains willing to hide behind Cameron and a minority of other leaders to aim for “a compromise” that will leave democratic aspirations in Europe severely harmed. Citizens have good reasons to be concerned.

6. Juni 2014

Expelling dissent: On account of the ECtHR judgment in Baka v Hungary

The European courts have been rather active in finding Hungary in violation of European constitutional and human rights minimum standards in April and in May 2014. In the most recent judgment in this line of cases, Baka v Hungary, the ECtHR found that the last chief justice of the Hungarian Supreme Court, András Baka, had been removed from office through constitution-making before the end of his term due to his criticism of the government’s judicial reforms. The Baka case is symptomatic of a fundamental shortcoming of Hungary’s new constitutional reality: the suppression and expulsion of dissent from the domestic political sphere. Sadly, the timing of the ECtHR’s judgment is perfect, as it comes at a time when the government is taking intense legal steps and other measures silence dissenting voices even further.

3. Juni 2014

Languages and EU law discourse: A view from a bilingual periphery

Typically, researchers go for impact; impact on other research, other legal practices along legal research, notably in the legislative, administrative and judicial branches. And the very idea of research includes the element of sharing – and sharing your results is easier if you are understood. In order to take part in the relevant discussions you need to go for two publication channels in parallel: national discourse and communication in foreign languages.

2. Juni 2014

›My dear, the Noise, the People…‹: On Fears about Assemblies

The European Parliament is institutionally shielded against any tangible negative consequences of the shameful election results actually derailing vital policies. ‘Europe’, in the first place, is a way to protect the Member States from their own stupid, homophobic and racist people (among others), and the EP is the worst possible place for parochial hatred policies. The remedy against turning EP elections into xenophobic crusades of the vile would be to make the EP a full-fledged Parliament.

31. Mai 2014