Although it has been clear for years that it would happen, the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) recently found the EU in breach of the Aarhus Convention. This is due to the fact that public interest organisations and concerned individuals are unable to have acts by EU, that affect the environment, reviewed by the Court of Justice. I would like to argue that this opinion by the ACCC has no effect whatsoever. This post will focus solely on the standing of the public interest by way of Article 263 TFEU, a discussion with a long academic pedigree, but the reader should be aware that at issue at the ACCC besides 'general' standing, is the implementation of the Convention through Regulation 1367/2006. For reasons that will become clear, that challenge has a lot more chance of success.
C’est quoi, être Néerlandais?
The second installment of my contributions to the blog series on the European elections in 2017. During our discussion on the elections in the Netherlands, prof. Sonntag and I came to discuss the strange new addition to the Dutch political debate on Dutchness. Identity politics has popped-up everywhere, but seems especially foreign in the Netherlands (for numerous reasons). Given the enormity of the subject, I though I'd limit myself to the problematic relationship that the Dutch have with their constitution. As a lawyer, I thought it would be an apt point of view, which would leave my better equipped sociological brethren to give an opinion on the societal concept of 'Dutchness'. The blog, with a number of very helpful additions by professor Sonntag, can be found here. My original draft can be read below.
Contribution to Mails d'Europe
My contribution to Professor Albrecht Sonntag's wonderful blog series on the elections that grip the European continent. I was asked to write about the role of the Dutch Left in the coming elections. The Dutch elections will be held on 15 March. No matter where you are, vote, no matter your feelings. You can express your anger, discontent, joy and hopes with a red pencil, and that is an amazing thing.
Eligible for a Prize
I am eligible for the Luke Foster prize for my article in the Journal for Contemporary European Research (JCER)
Who pays for our future?
Overview of the Martens case and its links to citizenship and solidarity.
Difficult to Relate
Judicial review has the peculiar quality that it is exemplary in illustrating the history and nature of a state, and in doing so it equally offers an insight into the relation between citizens and state.
The Opening Post
First blog post of this new experiment.
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