21 April 2015
Asylum Policy in the EU: Holy Saint Florian, Spare this Cottage, Burn the Other One!
In the past days, an estimated 1,000 people drowned in the Mediterranean, when two boats sank in quick succession. The urgent call for a search and rescue system adequate to the situation is completely justified. Assistance in distress at sea is an age-old international obligation, which was laid down in several international treaties, and to denounce it as support for smugglers is as cynical as it is misleading. If smugglers aren’t to profit from these needs, legal access to asylum must be opened—showing the very solidarity to overstrained countries in the region that the Refugee Convention demands in its preamble. This requires a radically different approach; the measures envisaged by the EU are but a meager beginning. Continue reading >>
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Flüchtlingspolitik in der EU: Heiliger Sankt Florian, verschon’ mein Haus, zünd’ and’re an!
In den vergangenen Tagen sind vermutlich über tausend Menschen im Mittelmeer ertrunken, als in kurzer Folge zwei Boote untergingen. Der dringliche Ruf nach einem der Gefahrenlage angemessenen Seenotrettungssystem ist absolut berechtigt und richtig. Die Rettung aus Seenot ist eine uralte völkerrechtliche Pflicht, und sie als Unterstützung für Schlepper anzuprangern, ist so zynisch wie irreführend. Wer nicht will, dass Schlepper profitieren, muss legale Zugangswege zu schützendem Asyl schaffen – und damit überlasteten Aufnahmestaaten in Krisenregionen diejenige Solidarität leisten, die die Präambel der Flüchtlingskonvention einfordert. Das erfordert ein grundlegendes Umdenken; die soeben verabschieden Maßnahmen der EU sind hier allenfalls ein Anfang. Continue reading >>“Italian-style” secession and the semi-indifference of national politics
On April 28th, the Italian Constitutional Court will hold a public hearing on the constitutionality of the planned independence referendum in the northern Italian region of Veneto. Unlike its Scottish and Catalan counterparts, the Veneto secession case has been largely ignored on the national political level in Italy. From a legal point of view, the unconstitutionality of an independence referendum seems hard to deny. But politically, nevertheless, treating regional separatism as a taboo could endanger the very thing it seeks to protect, the one and indivisible Republic of Italy. Continue reading >>
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“Italian-style” secession and the semi-indifference of national politics
On April 28th, the Italian Constitutional Court will hold a public hearing on the constitutionality of the planned independence referendum in the northern Italian region of Veneto. Unlike its Scottish and Catalan counterparts, the Veneto secession case has been largely ignored on the national political level in Italy. From a legal point of view, the unconstitutionality of an independence referendum seems hard to deny. But politically, nevertheless, treating regional separatism as a taboo could endanger the very thing it seeks to protect, the one and indivisible Republic of Italy. Continue reading >>
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20 April 2015
The UK’s general election: a fundamental change to UK/EU relations?
The result of the current British election campaign could be crucial for the future of the UK’s relations with the European Union. Every UK-wide election party which is likely to win seats in the election has now released its election manifesto, namely: the Conservatives;Labour; Liberal Democrats; UKIP; and the Greens. It’s therefore a good time to examine what the parties are saying about the EU, and what the various post-election scenarios would mean for the UK’s relations with the EU. Continue reading >>The UK’s general election: a fundamental change to UK/EU relations?
The result of the current British election campaign could be crucial for the future of the UK’s relations with the European Union. Every UK-wide election party which is likely to win seats in the election has now released its election manifesto, namely: the Conservatives;Labour; Liberal Democrats; UKIP; and the Greens. It’s therefore a good time to examine what the parties are saying about the EU, and what the various post-election scenarios would mean for the UK’s relations with the EU. Continue reading >>
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17 April 2015
Irish Supreme Court Overturns Absolute Exclusionary Rule for Unconstitutionally Obtained Evidence
On Wednesday, the Irish Supreme Court ruled by a majority of 4-3 that evidence obtained in criminal cases in breach of constitutional principles need not necessarily be excluded at trial, overturning a 24 year-old precedent on foot of which all such evidence was automatically excluded. The case is notable on a number of levels: it has obvious implications for the conduct of criminal trials, and raises interesting issues around the retrospective application of declarations of unconstitutionality. It also possibly marks the beginning of a more assertive period for the Irish Supreme Court, following two decades of marked restraint. Continue reading >>
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Irish Supreme Court Overturns Absolute Exclusionary Rule for Unconstitutionally Obtained Evidence
On Wednesday, the Irish Supreme Court ruled by a majority of 4-3 that evidence obtained in criminal cases in breach of constitutional principles need not necessarily be excluded at trial, overturning a 24 year-old precedent on foot of which all such evidence was automatically excluded. The case is notable on a number of levels: it has obvious implications for the conduct of criminal trials, and raises interesting issues around the retrospective application of declarations of unconstitutionality. It also possibly marks the beginning of a more assertive period for the Irish Supreme Court, following two decades of marked restraint. Continue reading >>13 April 2015
Les restrictions de la liberté d’expression face au délit d’apologie du terrorisme
Depuis la loi du 14 novembre 2014 et les attentats [...] Continue reading >>
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Die Einschränkungen der Meinungsfreiheit aufgrund des Kampfs gegen den Terrorismus in Frankreich
In den letzten Monaten haben sich die repressiven Maßnahmen wegen [...] Continue reading >>
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31 March 2015
Von tragenden Gründen und abstrakter Gefahr
Christoph Möllers und Matthias Hong debattieren im Verfassungsblog über die Frage, ob der Erste Senat in dem jüngst durch Beschluss abgeschlossenen Kopftuch-Verfahren nach § 16 BVerfGG eine Plenarentscheidung hätte erwirken müssen. Ich möchte im Lichte ihrer Debatte noch einmal einen Blick auf die Argumentation des Zweiten Senats von 2003 werfen und schauen, welche Ausführungen zur Verbotsmöglichkeit religiös akzentuierter Kleidung für das Lehrpersonal bei abstrakten Gefahren für kollidierende Verfassungsgüter wirklich tragend oder nicht tragend sind. Continue reading >>30 March 2015
Enteignung der Sparer im Namen der Geldwäsche? Anmerkungen zu dem in Frankreich geplanten Barzahlungsverbot
Die EZB verfolgt bekanntlich derzeit eine gegen eine tatsächliche oder vermeintliche Deflation im Euroraum gerichtete Politik. Die Niedrigzinspolitik stößt indes an Grenzen, solange sich die Bürgerinnen und Bürger der Negativverzinsung durch Flucht ins Bargeld entziehen können. Ein radikales Bargeldverbot wäre selbst in Zeiten „alternativloser Euro-Rettungspolitik“ kaum durchsetzbar. Weitgehend unangreifbar erscheint dagegen der unbestritten legitime Kampf gegen die Geldwäsche und die Finanzierung des Terrorismus. Frankreich plant ab Herbst 2015 Barzahlungen massiv einzuschränken. Diese Pläne werfen mindestens drei grundsätzliche währungsverfassungs- und grundrechtliche Fragen auf. Continue reading >>29 March 2015
Sicher, es geht um Verfassungsrecht: zu obiter dicta und „stare decisis“
War für den jüngsten Kopftuch-Fall eigentlich das Plenum zuständig? Mein Vorschlag, diese Frage zu verneinen, weil die neue Entscheidung nicht von tragenden Gründen der alten abweicht, überzeugt Christoph Möllers nicht: Ihm ist diese Antwort zu schlicht, um wahr zu sein. Warum soll aber nicht auch mal die schlichte Antwort letztlich die richtige sein? Continue reading >>27 March 2015
Geht es nicht um Verfassungsrecht?
Mathias Hong gibt auf die Frage, ob der Erste Senat [...] Continue reading >>Two Tales of Two Courts: zum Kopftuch-Beschluss und dem „horror pleni“
Christoph Möllers hat auf diesem Blog jüngst die Frage aufgeworfen, ob der aktuelle Kopftuch-Beschluss des Ersten Senats des BVerfG dem des Zweiten Senats nicht nur widerspricht, sondern womöglich obendrein gegen die Pflicht verstößt, die strittigen Fragen vor dem Großen Senat klären zu lassen. Doch dies würde voraussetzen, dass der Erste Senat von tragenden Gründen des Beschlusses des Zweiten Senats abgewichen ist - und das ist nicht der Fall. Continue reading >>26 March 2015
Turning point: maintaining the independence of the European Court of Human Rights
2015 is a crucial year for the European Court of Human Rights: a new president will be elected, a major number of judges will be replaced. One can argue that the Court is going through a turning point in its history. The perceived independence of the Court is a key to its legitimacy, while proper, transparent and clear procedure of selection of judges is a basic requirement of such independence. The most crucial stage of the process is clearly the national round of selection of candidates. It should have clear and foreseeable rules, the information about the competition should be broadly available and the selection committee should be independent from the executives. In practice, however, this first stage is the most problematic. Continue reading >>Turning point: maintaining the independence of the European Court of Human Rights
2015 is a crucial year for the European Court of Human Rights: a new president will be elected, a major number of judges will be replaced. One can argue that the Court is going through a turning point in its history. The perceived independence of the Court is a key to its legitimacy, while proper, transparent and clear procedure of selection of judges is a basic requirement of such independence. The most crucial stage of the process is clearly the national round of selection of candidates. It should have clear and foreseeable rules, the information about the competition should be broadly available and the selection committee should be independent from the executives. In practice, however, this first stage is the most problematic. Continue reading >>
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Of Blind Men, Elephants and European Disintegration – What could and what should legal academics do against the “disintegration” of Europe?
In how far is a European law scholar justified, or even obliged to man the barricades, even if only in a metaphorical sense, if and as far as the European Union and European Constitutional Law are in peril? Against the backdrop of clarifying the role of science of European constitutional law in times of European crisis, I would like to deal with the initial question in two separate steps. As a first step, I seek to explore what is behind the process of European “disintegration”. In a second step, I will then look at different levels of challenges that legal science, namely European legal science, is currently facing. It will then become evident that the employment of concepts of disintegration is not considerably more rewarding compared to other approaches. Continue reading >>
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24 March 2015
Der Volksbefragung eine Chance geben
Die Olympia-Bewerbung Berlins ist vom Tisch, und mit ihr die bereits beschlossene Volksbefragung dazu. Nicht vom Tisch ist jedoch ihre verfassungsrechtliche Bewertung. Denn eine solche Befragung kann natürlich auch bei jedem anderen Projekt des Berliner Senats beschlossen werden. Auch in Hamburg ist vor der offiziellen Bewerbung eine Volksbefragung angedacht. In Bayern ist diesen Monat ein Gesetz in Kraft getreten, das Volksbefragungen möglich machen soll – und sogleich vor dem Verfassungsgerichtshof gelandet. Die Verfassungsmäßigkeit solcher unverbindlicher Volksbefragungen ist heiß umstritten. Continue reading >>21 March 2015
The Greek Crisis and the Need for Constitutional Reform in the Eurozone
As the handling of the Greek crisis is making clear, Greek citizens are unable to shape their destiny through the electoral process (since their wishes for a clear shift away from austerity have been thwarted). And if they were, this would imply that German citizens would be unable to shape their destiny through the electoral process (since their wishes for only limited financial support to Greece would be disrespected). The Eurozone is based on separate claims of national democracies that cannot be reconciled. And this is why the need for constitutional reforms of the Eurozone is more urgent than ever. Continue reading >>
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The Greek Crisis and the Need for Constitutional Reform in the Eurozone
As the handling of the Greek crisis is making clear, Greek citizens are unable to shape their destiny through the electoral process (since their wishes for a clear shift away from austerity have been thwarted). And if they were, this would imply that German citizens would be unable to shape their destiny through the electoral process (since their wishes for only limited financial support to Greece would be disrespected). The Eurozone is based on separate claims of national democracies that cannot be reconciled. And this is why the need for constitutional reforms of the Eurozone is more urgent than ever. Continue reading >>20 March 2015
Hybride Investitionsgerichtsbarkeit zwischen Rechtsstaaten
In der Debatte um die Verankerung von Investitionsschutzvorschriften und Investor-Staat-Streitbeilegungsmechanismen im geplanten Freihandelsabkommen TTIP hat Bundeswirtschaftsminister Gabriel die Errichtung eines TTIP-Gerichtshofes ins Spiel gebracht. Die Liste möglicher Optionen, um die widerstreitenden Interessen an ISDS an größtmöglicher staatlicher Autonomie zusammenzubringen, muss sich freilich nicht in der Wahl zwischen hergebrachten Schiedsverfahren und einem TTIP-Gerichtshof erschöpfen. Ich möchte hier daher zur Ergänzung der Debatte versuchen, Grundzüge einer weiteren denkbaren Variante für den Investitionsschutz unter Rechtsstaaten zu skizzieren: Eine hybride Investitionsgerichtsbarkeit. Continue reading >>Über Kopftücher, Segelanweisungen und das Pech, zur falschen Zeit am falschen Ort und vor dem falschen Senat zu sein
Zur falschen Zeit (2003), am falschen Ort (Baden-Württemberg) und – [...] Continue reading >>18 March 2015
Bayern auf dem Sonderweg? Nachwirkungen der Kopftuch-Entscheidung des BVerfG
Der Freistaat Bayern will dem jüngsten Beschluss des Ersten Senats des Bundesverfassungsgerichts trotzen und an seinem Kopftuchverbot festhalten. Ist dies ein verfassungsrechtlich problematischer bayerischer Sonderweg oder eine noch vertretbare Austarierung föderaler Spielräume? Continue reading >>
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16 March 2015
Auf der Suche nach dem Ariadnefaden: von den rechtlichen Schwierigkeiten von Grexit und Graccident
Allenthalben verdichten sich die Anzeichen, dass Griechenland die Reformforderungen der Eurogruppe für die Auszahlung noch zur Verfügung stehender Hilfsgelder oder sogar für ein weiteres Hilfsprogramm nicht erfüllen will oder aus den unterschiedlichsten politischen Gründen nicht erfüllen kann. Die unmittelbare Konsequenz scheint offenkundig: Griechenland müsste, bewusst oder unabsichtlich, die Währungsunion verlassen. Doch das ist rechtlich äußerst problematisch. Sollte es dennoch zu "Grexit" oder "Graccident" kommen – die steuernde Kraft des Währungsrechts stößt mitunter an Grenzen – so würde dies eine Flut von Prozessen nach sich ziehen und auf Jahre erhebliche Rechtsunsicherheit in Griechenland mit sich bringen. Continue reading >>15 March 2015
Searching for the Ariadne‘s thread – The Legal Complexities of “Grexit” and “Graccident”
It seems more and more likely that Greece will not be able or willing to fulfill the reform demands by the Eurogroup, condition for the payment of available funds under the prolonged financial assistance programme, not to mention an additional programme. The immediate consequence seems obvious: Greece would, deliberately or not, have to leave the Euro. But that is tremendously problematic, legally. Should grexit or graccident still occur – the regulatory power of monetary law is sometimes limited – this would produce an aftermath of legal proceedings and generate legal uncertainty for years to come, at least in Greece. Continue reading >>14 March 2015
A Tale of two Courts
1. Wenige Jahre vor seinem Selbstmord auf der Flucht vor [...] Continue reading >>13 March 2015
Kurswechsel in der Kopftuchfrage: nachvollziehbar, aber mit negativen Folgewirkungen
Die Entscheidung des Bundesverfassungsgerichts vom 13. März 2015 zum Kopftuch der Lehrerin in öffentlichen Schulen hinterlässt einen zwiespältigen Eindruck: Einerseits ist positiv, dass es den Einstieg in eine stärker laizistische Lesart des Grundgesetzes, den das Gericht in der Vorgängerentscheidung 2003 unternommen hatte, revidiert. Andererseits überrascht, wie unbefangen der Erste Senat nun über die Entscheidungsgründe des vor zwölf Jahren entscheidenden Zweiten Senats hinweggeht. Continue reading >>11 March 2015
Transatlantische Investitionsgerichtsbarkeit: Ansätze der Gestaltung eines TTIP-Gerichtshofs
Die SPD und mit ihr Bundeswirtschaftsminister Sigmar Gabriel begegnet der anhaltenden Kritik am geplanten Freihandelsabkommen TTIP nun mit dem beachtenswerten Vorschlag eines echten Investitionsschutzgerichtes, einem TTIP-Gerichtshof. Ein solcher konsequent umgesetzter Gerichtshof könnte tatsächlich die vorgebrachten institutionellen und verfahrensrechtlichen Bedenken aus rechtwissenschaftlicher Perspektive in weiten Teilen entkräften. Ob er politisch tragfähig ist, darf jedoch bezweifelt werden. Continue reading >>Transatlantische Investitionsgerichtsbarkeit: Ansätze der Gestaltung eines TTIP-Gerichtshofs
Die SPD und mit ihr Bundeswirtschaftsminister Sigmar Gabriel begegnet der anhaltenden Kritik am geplanten Freihandelsabkommen TTIP nun mit dem beachtenswerten Vorschlag eines echten Investitionsschutzgerichtes, einem TTIP-Gerichtshof. Ein solcher konsequent umgesetzter Gerichtshof könnte tatsächlich die vorgebrachten institutionellen und verfahrensrechtlichen Bedenken aus rechtwissenschaftlicher Perspektive in weiten Teilen entkräften. Ob er politisch tragfähig ist, darf jedoch bezweifelt werden. Continue reading >>08 March 2015
Re-Organizing Europe’s Judicial Power through the Backdoor?
Dropping CETA’s current investment chapter and trilateralising its (re-)negotiation would provide the space for making a conscious, open, and unbiased decision in favour of an investor-state dispute-settlement mechanism in European trade and investment agreements. Continue reading >>Re-Organizing Europe’s Judicial Power through the Backdoor?
Dropping CETA’s current investment chapter and trilateralising its (re-)negotiation would provide the space for making a conscious, open, and unbiased decision in favour of an investor-state dispute-settlement mechanism in European trade and investment agreements. Continue reading >>
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04 March 2015
Doch nicht allmächtig: das europäische Gericht erklärt eine Verordnung der EZB für nichtig
Das EuG hat eine Verordnung der Europäischen Zentralbank mangels Rechtsgrundlage für nichtig erklärt. Das dürfte nicht nur die klagenden Briten freuen, die um die Bedeutung des Finanzplatzes London fürchten. Das Urteil zeigt, dass die Idee der Integration durch Recht auch und gerade für die EZB Geltung beansprucht und dass jedenfalls das Gericht diese Idee auch ernst nimmt. Continue reading >>A referendum on Britain’s EU membership is a sure fire way to encourage the breakup of the UK
David Cameron has pledged to hold a referendum on the UK’s EU membership if his Conservative party wins a majority at the British general election in May. Jo Murkens writes on the impact an EU referendum would have on the UK’s place in Europe and on the UK as a whole. He argues that the EU referendum debate highlights the extent to which the UK has failed to contribute to the EU’s political goals in key areas like the Ukraine crisis, and that the net effect of the referendum could be to weaken the unity of the United Kingdom itself. Continue reading >>A referendum on Britain’s EU membership is a sure fire way to encourage the breakup of the UK
David Cameron has pledged to hold a referendum on the UK’s EU membership if his Conservative party wins a majority at the British general election in May. Jo Murkens writes on the impact an EU referendum would have on the UK’s place in Europe and on the UK as a whole. He argues that the EU referendum debate highlights the extent to which the UK has failed to contribute to the EU’s political goals in key areas like the Ukraine crisis, and that the net effect of the referendum could be to weaken the unity of the United Kingdom itself. Continue reading >>27 February 2015
„Ausermittelt“ ist nicht gleich aufgeklärt – zur Rolle der Bundesanwaltschaft im NSU-Komplex
Nach der Aufdeckung der NSU-Mordserie gab es viele Stimmen, die eine radikale Reform oder sogar Abschaffung des Verfassungsschutzes forderten. Eine Debatte über die Rolle deutscher Staatsanwaltschaften im Umgang mit dem NSU-Komplex bleibt bislang aus. Continue reading >>26 February 2015
Poland: trust no one but the law
The Strasbourg court has found that Poland violated the European [...] Continue reading >>
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Poland: trust no one but the law
The Strasbourg court has found that Poland violated the European [...] Continue reading >>25 February 2015
Does property protection entail a right to obtain social benefits under the ECHR?
It goes without saying that a supranational court’s engagement with national social policy is a sensitive endeavour. This is all the more so when the norms this court is protecting are of a ‘classic’, rather than of a socio-economic kind. In the recent case of Béláné Nagy v. Hungary the European Court of Human Rights seemingly recognises a right to obtain social security benefits under Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which contains the right to protection of property. The case was decided by a three to four vote and hence might be referred to the Grand Chamber. Yet it is especially the strong and diverging conclusions of the majority and the minority on a sensitive issue like the protection of social security qua property rights issue, that make this judgment worth elaborating upon. Continue reading >>
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Does property protection entail a right to obtain social benefits under the ECHR?
It goes without saying that a supranational court’s engagement with national social policy is a sensitive endeavour. This is all the more so when the norms this court is protecting are of a ‘classic’, rather than of a socio-economic kind. In the recent case of Béláné Nagy v. Hungary the European Court of Human Rights seemingly recognises a right to obtain social security benefits under Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which contains the right to protection of property. The case was decided by a three to four vote and hence might be referred to the Grand Chamber. Yet it is especially the strong and diverging conclusions of the majority and the minority on a sensitive issue like the protection of social security qua property rights issue, that make this judgment worth elaborating upon. Continue reading >>24 February 2015
The “Anti-Mosques” Law of Lombardy and Religious Freedom in Italy
Lombardy, Italy’s most populous region, has just enacted a law that seems to be designed to make life for Muslims as hard as possible. On January 27th, the Council of the Lombardy Region has enacted amendments to the Regional Law that regulates the planning of buildings and other structures for religious purposes. These amendments make it extremely cumbersome to build new places of worship for all non-established religious denominations, particularly Muslims – while the still dominant Catholic Church remains exempted from the regulation. Discrimination is not the only aspect of the new law that makes its constitutionality look more than questionable. Continue reading >>The “Anti-Mosques” Law of Lombardy and Religious Freedom in Italy
Lombardy, Italy’s most populous region, has just enacted a law that seems to be designed to make life for Muslims as hard as possible. On January 27th, the Council of the Lombardy Region has enacted amendments to the Regional Law that regulates the planning of buildings and other structures for religious purposes. These amendments make it extremely cumbersome to build new places of worship for all non-established religious denominations, particularly Muslims – while the still dominant Catholic Church remains exempted from the regulation. Discrimination is not the only aspect of the new law that makes its constitutionality look more than questionable. Continue reading >>
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20 February 2015
Von blinden Männern und Elefanten: was kann und sollte die Rechtswissenschaft gegen die „Desintegration“ Europas tun?
Wie weit darf man / muss man als Europarechtler für Europa auf die Barrikaden gehen, vielleicht auch nur im übertragenen Sinne, wenn und soweit die Europäische Union und das europäische Verfassungsrecht in Gefahr sind? Vor der Hintergrundfolie einer Vergewisserung über die Rolle der Wissenschaft vom Europäischen Verfassungsrecht in europäischen Krisenzeiten möchte ich diese Frage in zwei Schritten behandeln. In einem ersten Schritt will ich prüfen, was es mit europäischen Desintegrationsprozessen auf sich haben könnte. In einem zweiten Schritt will ich verschiedene Ebenen der Herausforderungen für die Rechtswissenschaft, namentlich der Europarechtswissenschaft, in den Blick nehmen. Es wird sich zeigen, dass das Hantieren mit Desintegrationskonzepten gegenüber anderen Ansätzen nur begrenzten Mehrwert verspricht. Continue reading >>17 February 2015
Who’s Afraid of National Parliaments’ “Green Card”?
Five years from the entry of the Lisbon Treaty into force, national parliaments are evaluating the means of their influence and control over the EU law and policies. New ideas and improvements of existing procedures are being tabled. One of them is the so-called "green card" initiative, explored recently at least by Danish, Dutch and British parliament. In my opinion none of the objections against this proposal is convincing, and there are indeed good reasons for trying out the green card. Continue reading >>
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Who’s Afraid of National Parliaments’ “Green Card”?
Five years from the entry of the Lisbon Treaty into force, national parliaments are evaluating the means of their influence and control over the EU law and policies. New ideas and improvements of existing procedures are being tabled. One of them is the so-called "green card" initiative, explored recently at least by Danish, Dutch and British parliament. In my opinion none of the objections against this proposal is convincing, and there are indeed good reasons for trying out the green card. Continue reading >>
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09 February 2015
Welcoming Russian Navy to Cyprus Should Be a Violation of EU Law
The struggle for the continued observance of Article 2 TEU values in the EU is on-going. Arguably, it is now much more acute than ever before. The news that Cyprus considers granting the Russian military access to military bases on its territory is just another urgent reminder of the mounting necessity to upgrade the Union’s role in dealing with values crises in the Member States – both internally and externally – issues which are indispensable for the Union’s survival. Continue reading >>
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Welcoming Russian Navy to Cyprus Should Be a Violation of EU Law
The struggle for the continued observance of Article 2 TEU values in the EU is on-going. Arguably, it is now much more acute than ever before. The news that Cyprus considers granting the Russian military access to military bases on its territory is just another urgent reminder of the mounting necessity to upgrade the Union’s role in dealing with values crises in the Member States – both internally and externally – issues which are indispensable for the Union’s survival. Continue reading >>
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01 February 2015
CIA Torture Sites in Poland: Thirty Million Dollars for Torture Victims
According to the US Senate report into the CIA rendition programme and prisons, US authorities paid 30 million dollars to Polish secret services in return for the opportunity to establish and operate the CIA detention facility in Stare Kiejkuty. Our country clearly has a lesson to learn. This lesson is to create a comprehensive assistance programme for victims of torture. A sum of 30 million dollars should be enough to finance such a system over the few years following its establishment. Continue reading >>
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CIA Torture Sites in Poland: Thirty Million Dollars for Torture Victims
According to the US Senate report into the CIA rendition programme and prisons, US authorities paid 30 million dollars to Polish secret services in return for the opportunity to establish and operate the CIA detention facility in Stare Kiejkuty. Our country clearly has a lesson to learn. This lesson is to create a comprehensive assistance programme for victims of torture. A sum of 30 million dollars should be enough to finance such a system over the few years following its establishment. Continue reading >>
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30 January 2015