Imagine this: You want to found a family with your beloved husband but he dies at the tender age of 30. In order to still establish a family you want to use his sperm to instigate fertility treatment. However, your home country’s law does not allow you to use the sperm because your husband did…
The crisis generated by COVID-19 emphasises an idea that has gained momentum since the second half of the century: the need for multilevel governance, which refers to joint action by different territorial levels of government, because states are necessary, but not sufficient. On the one hand, when faced with a worldwide challenge, states are too…
A few years back, I was doing my Bachelor’s degree in ‘Public management’ with a specialisation in the German ‘Bundesland’ Baden-Württemberg. Part of this program was about getting to know the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany and the place the Bundesländer takes within it. There, I learnt that, up to 80 percent…
The Second World War was probably the largest crisis of the 20th century for many European countries. Populations were decimated, infrastructure was destroyed and economies collapsed, however, one of the immediate priorities following the war was to renew the political staff in charge of rebuilding these countries. Therefore, many European countries held elections shortly after…
Personal data. Sounds dry? Try this: a former soldier looks for experience as crew member on a private yacht. Soon the Caribbean paradise turns into Sodom and Gomorra. He kills close to half of the crew. Then spends 17 years in a German prison. Once out of prison, he starts an entirely new life. But…
On 2 April 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) No. 40/2020, found Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to be in breach of European Union law for refusing to comply with the temporary mechanism for the relocation of applicants for international protection.[1] In 2015, the European Commission adopted a legally binding…
Elephants are well known for their close family ties and complex (by the way: matriarchic) social structures.[1] If they were able to read they would presumably appreciate Article 7 of the Charter. This provision says: “Everyone has the right to respect for his or her private and family life, home and communications.“ It is a…
Unclear administrative procedures additionally burdened with various bureaucratic manoeuvres can directly affect the protection of citizens’ rights, this is visible in the cases held in front of the European Court of Justice that are initiated as a need for the protection against the decisions of the country’s administrative authorities. As a result of past legacies,…
Should States be able to impose on us a stay in hospital, at home or in defined areas just for the sake of preventing the infamous Corona virus from further spreading?[1] And if yes, for how long? What does the EU Charter have to say? Here you are: “Everybody has the right to liberty and…
Over the past months, one specific topic has triggered lively discussions in Brussels and elsewhere in Europe: the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MFF is the seven-year period EU budget that sets ex ante expenditure ceilings for all the headings. At the time of writing, no agreement for the 2021-2027 period has been reached yet….
