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School of Law

New Book Forum: Economic Governance in Europe – Comparative Paradoxes and Constitutional Challenges by Federico Fabbrini

14 March 2016

Time: 12:00 - 2:00pm
Venue: Room 313, Third Floor, Law Building, Queen Mary University of London, E1 4NS Mile End Road, United Kingdom

The Centre for European and International Legal Affairs (CEILA) in the School of Law at Queen Mary University of London, hosts this new book forum for Dr Federico Fabbrini's (University of Copenhagen) new book, Economic Governance in Europe - Comparative Paradoxes and Constitutional Challenges (Oxford University Press, 2016).

About the Book

The Euro-Crisis and the legal and institutional responses to it have had important constitutional implications on the architecture of the European Union (EU). Going beyond the existing literature, Federico Fabbrini's book takes a broad look and examines how the crisis and its aftermath have changed relations of power in the EU, disaggregating three different dimensions: (1) the vertical relations of power between the member states and the EU institutions, (2) the relations of power between the political branches and the courts, and (3) the horizontal relations of power between the EU member states themselves.

The first part of the book argues that, in the aftermath of the Euro-crisis, power has been shifting along each of these axes in paradoxical ways. In particular, through a comparison of the United States, Fabbrini reveals that the EU is nowadays characterised by a high degree of centralisation in budgetary affairs, an unprecedented level of judicialisation of economic questions, and a growing imbalance between the member states in the governance of fiscal matters. As the book makes clear, however, each of these dynamics is a cause for concern - as it calls into question important constitutional values for the EU, such as the autonomy of the member states in taking decision about taxing and spending, the preeminence of the political process in settling economic matters, and the balance between state power and state equality. The second part of the book, therefore, devises possible options for future legal and institutional developments in the EU which may revert these paradoxical trends. In particular, Fabbrini considers the ideas of raising a fiscal capacitiy, restoring the centrality of the EU legislative process, and reforming the EU executive power, and discusses the challenges that accompany any further step towards a deeper Economic and Monetary Union.

Directions

For directions to the venue, please refer to the map.

How to book

This event is free but prior booking is required. Register online via Eventbrite.

Contact

For more information on this event, please email lawevents@qmul.ac.uk.


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