29 April 2024
Chaos, Confusion and Republican Change-Up
Grasping the rules for getting an abortion in the American states is no easy matter for pregnant women, for abortion doctors, or for outside observers trying to understand how deeply entangled abortion is with the 2024 Presidential Election in November. The story is complicated, fast-moving, and not over yet. As Bette Davis warned her party guests, “Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a bumpy night”. Continue reading >>
0 
Rebuilding the Rule of Law
The victory of the opposition in the parliamentary elections in Poland in 2023 followed by the formation of a coalition government paved the way for the rebuilding of the rule of law after a period of its systematic violation during the 8-year rule of PiS. The first four months of the new government have already shown that this process will not be easy. However, certain actions aimed at rebuilding the violated standards have already been taken. Three goals and values should be among the guiding principles in the process of rebuilding the rule of law in Poland: legalism, legal certainty, and building citizens' trust in public institutions. Continue reading >>
0
Das ist Kunst, das kommt weg
Auch ohne Beteiligung einer autoritären Partei an einer Regierung hat der sog. „Kulturkampf von Rechts“ längst begonnen und zeitigt Erfolge. Nicht nur in Thüringen oder in Deutschland, sondern auch international dient Kultur als Strategie der Polarisierung. Sie bietet ein besonders wirksames, oft unterschätztes Feld für Legitimationsnarrative, denn sie baut Legitimationsbrücken zwischen Rechtspopulismus und Neonazismus. Jetzt kommt erst die schlechte Nachricht: Eine autoritäre Regierung kann sich dabei die Kunstförderung spielend leicht zu Nutze machen Continue reading >>The Enemy Within
Naivety persists when it comes to understanding the scope of the hybrid war that Russia is currently waging against us, with the role played by the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban being a good example. European diplomats, politicians and commentators continue to underestimate the security risk that he poses as Putin's willing puppet. As a result, they are right now sleepwalking into what will likely be a disastrous Hungarian EU Presidency, not only for the Union itself but also for Ukraine. Continue reading >>Overcoming Big Tech AI Merger Evasions: Innovating EU Competition Law through the AI Act
To develop AI, computing power and access to data (aka bigness) are crucial. Now, Big Tech companies appear evading EU competition law. Companies like Google and Microsoft evade the EU Merger Regulation by entering partnerships with smaller AI labs that fall short of shifting ownership but nevertheless increase the monopolistic power of Big Tech. These quasi-mergers are particularly problematic in the context of generative AI, which relies even more than many other services on incredibly vast computing power. That is a dire state from an economic as well as a more fundamental and democratic perspective, as concentrating economic might in the hands of very few companies may cause problems down the road. Continue reading >>27 April 2024
Karlsruhe hat die Wahl
Vom „Moin“ im Norden bis zum „Grüß Gott“ im Süden – wie viel flächendeckende Repräsentation erfordert das Wahlrecht? Am zweiten Tag der mündlichen Verhandlung zur Wahlrechtsreform ging es um genau diese Frage. Dem Zweiten Senat des BVerfG kommt nun die Aufgabe zu, die dem Gesetzgeber nicht gelungen ist: eine integrierende Entscheidung über das Wahlrecht im Konsens. Dabei lässt er sich kaum in die Karten schauen. Continue reading >>26 April 2024
Long Live Nottebohm
Next year, Nottebohm will be turning 70. Only very recently, Weiler, on this blog, made the point that the argument of a genuine link – underpinning the case of the Commission against the Maltese golden passport scheme – is unconvincing and rests on a “tendentious reading of Nottebohm”. Yet, in Commission v Malta, the CJEU may well reinvigorate a European debate about the genuine links that bind us. I, for once, would argue it is high time to make the point that nationality is not just anything a State makes of it. Continue reading >>Who is afraid of actio popularis?
If, as the German experience suggests, the actio popularis exclusion serves to bar individuals from invoking objective illegality that does not concern rights, while standing of associations is a way to enforce objective legality despite the actio popularis exclusion, it is hard to see why this should have any relevance for the European Convention of Human Rights. Human rights are, after all, rights.
Continue reading >>
0
25 April 2024
India’s New Constitutional Climate Right
The Supreme Court of India delivered a historic judgement on climate change and human rights in M.K. Ranjitsinh and Others v. Union of India and Others (hereinafter “M.K. Ranjitsinh”) on March 21, 2024. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice, D.Y. Chandrachud, formulated a new constitutional right to be free from the adverse effects of climate change by drawing upon Article 21 (the fundamental right to life and personal liberty) and Article 14 (the fundamental right to equality) of the Indian Constitution. The final judgement is a remarkable development for the evolution of constitutional climate litigation in India Continue reading >>
0
24 April 2024
The Ball is in the Game
In 2017 strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) became an important topic on the EU level. As a result, the EU adopted the anti-SLAPP Directive, which shall protect journalists from abusive lawsuits that do not serve justice but only the sinister aim of silencing free press. However, there is important litigation as well. In 2024 the Real Madrid Club de Fútbol vs Le Monde case addressed the problem of exorbitant damages targeting press and introducing a deterrent effect on freedom of speech in transnational cases. From a rule of law and, especially, freedom of the press angle, the case is of paramount importance as it forwards a simple but groundbreaking argument: two of EU law’s most fundamental principles, mutual recognition and freedom of speech, are a strong basis to fight SLAPPs. Continue reading >>
0
Rallying under a Nazi Swastika Flag
On April 5th, 2024, the Helsinki Court of Appeal held that rallying under a Nazi swastika flag constituted an offense of incitement to hatred, namely, agitation against a group of population. Contrary to German law, Finnish law does not include any specific prohibition of symbols of this kind. It therefore leaves it open under which circumstances the public use of symbols such as those linked with the Nazi regime in fact constitute a criminal offense. Against this background, the Court of Appeal’s conclusion is to be welcomed. Had the outcome been different, this would have triggered a set of difficult questions of how to amend the regulatory framework in order to address this issue. The judgment may, however, still be appealed. Continue reading >>
0
Full House in Karlsruhe
Gestern begann die mit Spannung erwartete mündliche Verhandlung des Bundesverfassungsgerichts zur Wahlrechtsreform der Ampel-Koalition. Zwei Tage verhandelt der Zweite Senat über die Frage, ob die Einführung der Zweitstimmendeckung und der Wegfall der Grundmandatsklausel mit dem Grundgesetz vereinbar sind oder nicht. Viel Prominenz aus Politik und deutscher Staatsrechtlehre sorgen für – so hat es Vizepräsidentin Doris König ausgedrückt – „Full House“ in Karlsruhe. Nach einem humorvollen Auftakt dürften die Beteiligten versuchen, am heutigen zweiten Tag ihre Asse auszuspielen. Continue reading >>Pushbacks From Europe’s Borders Enter the Mainstream
The Polish reckoning with the illiberal turn of the past years seemingly does not apply to the unlawful practice of pushbacks on the Poland-Belarus border. The unlawful practices, best exemplified by pushbacks, have come to be accepted in the European mainstream. The humanitarian crisis on the Poland-Belarus border and its handling by the new government, together with its rejection of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, vividly illustrates this point. Continue reading >>
0
23 April 2024
Gewalt als körperliche Zwangswirkung
Sitzblockaden gelten gemeinhin als Form des friedlichen Protests. Die Strafgerichte sehen in der Störung der freien Fahrt der Autofahrer:innen jedoch eine Nötigung durch „Gewalt“ nach § 240 StGB. Aus unserer Sicht setzt Gewalt dagegen eine Einwirkung auf den Körper des Opfers voraus. Der Gewaltbegriff der Zweite-Reihe-Rechtsprechung verstößt gegen Art. 103 Abs. 2 GG und führt auch strafrechtsintern zu gravierenden Unstimmigkeiten. Continue reading >>Im Zweifel gegen die Freiverantwortlichkeit
Das Landgericht Berlin I hat einen pensionierten Arzt wegen Suizidhilfe zu einer Freiheitsstrafe von drei Jahren verurteilt. Hier zeigt sich einmal mehr, dass die Maßstäbe, die der Bundesgerichtshof und das Bundesverfassungsgericht in den letzten Jahren zur Suizidassistenz bei psychisch erkrankten Menschen formuliert haben, weder für die Praxis noch für die Tatgerichte verlässliche Leitlinien bieten. Damit dürfte sich die Chance psychisch Erkrankter, Hilfe bei der Umsetzung ihres Sterbewunsches zu erhalten, bis zu einer Grundsatzentscheidung des Bundesgerichtshofs bzw. einer gesetzlichen Regelung verringern. Continue reading >>A Proposal Towards a European Defence Union
In the context of profound (geo-)political changes, and following the Conference on the Future of Europe, the European Parliament (EP) adopted proposals for a Treaty reform for the area of defence. This blog post analyses the proposed formation of the European Defence Union (EDU) and the introduction of qualified majority voting (QMV) while concluding that the new framework would likely create contradictory outcomes and undesirably challenge the current constitutional balance. Continue reading >>
0
22 April 2024
Immanuel Kants 300. Geburtstag und das Grundgesetz
Immanuel Kant, geboren am 22. April 1724, hat heute seinen 300. Geburtstag. Und das Grundgesetz wird nächsten Monat 75 Jahre alt. Was bedeuten diese beiden Senioren füreinander? Was hat Kants Philosophie mit dem Grundgesetz zu tun? Continue reading >>
0
Schengen’s Paper Pushbacks
On Wednesday, the 24th of April, the European Parliament will vote on a reform of the Schengen Border Code (SBC). The reform appears to institutionalize existing patterns of denying access to rights for people on the move by introducing “transfer-procedures”. Expulsions without procedural safeguards have become common practice at internal borders throughout the EU. The proposed regulation raises concerns over its unclear resolution of potential conflict with EU secondary and primary law, particularly its incompatibility with children’s rights standards, and its application in practice. Continue reading >>
0
“Very Tight Control”
In 2020, at the height of the Covid crisis, the EU had its 'Hamiltonian Moment'. To overcome the pandemic's economic shock, Member States agreed to back an unprecedented, capital markets-based 750 billion Euro funding scheme to kickstart the European economy. However, since then, it proved surprisingly hard to make sense of where all the money went. Apparently, one main oversight body is a rather informal committee of Member States. Now, internal documents paint a picture of peer scrutiny that remains at a general level, is conducted under tight deadlines, and is strongly limited by scarce resources. They also reveal an evolution of the process to a point what looks much like a mere formality. Continue reading >>
0
The First Italian Climate Judgement and the Separation of Powers
On 26th February 2024, in its Giudizio Universale decision, the Tribunal of Rome penned the first Italian climate judgement. Shortly after, on 9 April 2024, the ECtHR handed down its seminal trio of KlimaSeniorinnen v. Switzerland, Duarte Agostinho v. Portugal and Others and Carême v. France. In this monumental string of cases, the ECtHR set the new standard for climate litigation in Europe, also regarding separation of powers. This invites a critical assessment of Giudizio Universale’s stance. Continue reading >>19 April 2024
Without a Doubt
The German Federal Court of Justice recently announced that the exclusion of functional immunity for foreign state officials in cases of international crimes is “without a doubt” part of customary international law. Like many others in academic literature, we agree with this conclusion – the German government would be well advised to embrace it and put an end to its long-standing ambiguous position on the matter. Continue reading >>
0
Gemischte Signale für das nationale Klimarecht
Die Klima-Entscheidungen der Großen Kammer des Europäischen Gerichtshofs für Menschenrechte (EGMR) sind wegweisend. Auf den ersten Blick ist jedoch nicht vollkommen klar, wie sie sich auf das nationale Klimarecht der Vertragsstaaten der Europäischen Menschenrechtskonvention (EMRK) auswirken werden. Haben die strategischen Klimaklagen den von ihnen erwünschten Durchbruch erzielt, der das nationale Klimarecht revolutionieren wird? Continue reading >>
0
No More Vogel-Strauß
Die Eizellspende ist in Deutschland seit 1990 ausdrücklich und ausnahmslos verboten – strafbewehrt. Vorstöße aus Wissenschaft und Politik, das Verbot zu kippen, gab es in den vergangenen Jahren immer wieder; geändert hat sich bisher nichts. Erfreulich ist, dass die „Kommission zur Reproduktiven Selbstbestimmung und Fortpflanzungsmedizin“ in ihrem Bericht zumindest zu dem Ergebnis kommt: Das Verbot der Eizellspende ist verfassungsrechtlich nicht geboten. Das aber geht nicht weit genug, denn: Die Eizellspende muss zugelassen werden. Continue reading >>
0
18 April 2024
Trau, Schau, Link!
Das BVerfG hat auf eine Verfassungsbeschwerde des Onlinejournalisten Julian Reichelt hin am Dienstag nach sehr kurzer Verfahrensdauer eine ihn betreffende einstweilige Anordnung des Berliner Kammergerichts materiellrechtlich überzeugend aufgehoben. Indem es die Zulässigkeitsvoraussetzungen äußerst großzügig und seine eigene Kontrolldichte äußerst engmaschig interpretierte, dürfte das Gericht beträchtliche Anreize dafür gesetzt haben, sich in äußerungsrechtlichen Fällen auch ohne besonderen Zeitdruck von nun an frühzeitig an es zu wenden. Continue reading >>
0
Menschenrecht auf Klimaschutz als „lebensrettende Behandlung“?
Manuela Niehaus verteidigt die menschenrechtsgestützte Klimarechtsprechung – insbesondere des EGMR – gegen meine Kritik. Es handele sich nicht um „Globuli für Umweltjuristen“, sondern um ein potentiell lebensrettendes Medikament, das – im Zusammenspiel mit anderen Mitteln – einen wesentlichen Beitrag zum Klimaschutz leisten könne. Das sehen sicher viele ähnlich und darum bin ich dankbar für Niehaus Argumente und für ihren sanften Spott. Ihr Spott trifft mich zu Recht, ihre Argumente aber überzeugen mich nur sehr teilweise. Continue reading >>
0
17 April 2024
Solidarity Crimes, Legitimacy Limits
The criminalisation of humanitarianism has become pervasive in the EU over the last two decades. Overbroad definitions of the crimes of facilitation of irregular entry, transit and stay produce well known noxious effects on the human rights of migrants and civil society organisations. Nevertheless, the tendency has been to tighten the rules rather than contesting the EU’s failure to pursue a migration control system that is ‘fair towards third-country nationals’ and constructed ‘with respect for fundamental rights.’ In this blogpost, I argue that the EU legislator’s disregard for the human rights impacts of the facilitation regime constitutes an abuse of power. Legislative measures that have the effect of subverting legally enshrined principles (Arts 2, 6 & 21 TEU) and suppress the rights of civil society and the migrants with whom they engage are incompatible with core democratic premises. Continue reading >>
0
A Non-EU Rule of Law Commission
In March, the European Parliament decided to sue the European Commission over a quid pro quo exchange of European Union funds with Hungary for support of Ukraine EU accession. This lawsuit marks a striking culmination of a years-long failure on the part of the Commission to protect the rule of law. Given frustrating delays from Brussels, this blog post proposes a non-EU accountability mechanism—a so-called Rule of Law Commission—to bolster and reinforce commitments to rule of law issues among European states. Continue reading >>
0