National Courts as EU Fundamental Rights Courts

This book addresses the application of EU fundamental rights law by national courts. It offers a unique insight into the case law of courts in three EU Member States (Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands) as regards mutual trust and fundamental rights. Through a thorough analysis of over 1000 national court judgements from the last ten years, the book enables readers to view EU law from the perspective of national judges.

The book focuses on decisions regarding transfers under the Dublin Regulation and the European Arrest Warrant. These particular cases require national judges to balance the EU legal principle of mutual trust with individual fundamental rights. This is a demanding task due to the differences in approach between the Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the inherent tension between the principle of mutual trust and fundamental rights. The book investigates how national judges navigate the differences in applicable laws (EU law, ECHR law, national law) in Dublin and EAW cases. Moreover, it dissects how and when national judges decide to allow or refuse a transfer, along with their legal reasoning. Finally, the manner in which national courts have utilised the preliminary reference procedure in these cases is considered.

This book will appeal to anyone interested in understanding how EU law works in practice and the role of national courts, as it explains how national judges may approach similar questions of EU law differently. For students and researchers, the book serves as an important example of EU legal research, employing a systematic analysis of national case law. Finally, it aids practitioners in understanding how national judges approach Dublin and EAW cases and the reasoning behind their decisions to refuse or allow a transfer. 

Lucia van der Meulen is an affiliated member of the Institute for European Law of the KU Leuven in Leuven, Belgium.

This is an open accesss publication.