Worlds Apart? Comparing the Approaches of the European Court of Justice and the EU Legislature to International Law

Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies Working Paper No. 96

37 Pages Posted: 7 Jun 2013

See all articles by Jan Wouters

Jan Wouters

KU Leuven - Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies

Jed Odermatt

Centre of Excellence for International Courts (iCourts); The City Law School

Thomas Ramopoulos

KU Leuven - Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies

Date Written: August 2012

Abstract

This paper examines and compares the approaches taken by the European Court of Justice and the EU legislature towards international law. Although the Court and legislature are tasked with different roles, such a comparison is warranted, especially since many of the complex legal problems facing the EU regarding international law in recent years have arisen in part due to a growing divergence between the two approaches. We begin by looking at the EU Treaties. Although little guidance is given on how international law is to be applied within the EU legal order, the Treaties are not entirely silent. Numerous references to international law and multilateralism, especially those included post-Lisbon, guide the Court and the legislature, helping to minimize inconsistencies between their approaches. We examine the Court’s approach to international law, which, especially in the light of recent case law, is much less ‘open’ than it is often portrayed. It stands in contrast to that of the legislature, which shows greater willingness to take into account international law. We argue that the Court’s more guarded approach, often motivated by a desire to preserve the autonomy of EU law, is largely unwarranted. Rather, the Court should enter into a more open dialogue with international law, helping the EU to, “contribute ... to the strict observance and the development of international law", as prescribed by Article 3(5) TEU.

Keywords: European Union, Court of Justice of the European Union, EU legislature, international law

Suggested Citation

Wouters, Jan and Odermatt, Jed and Odermatt, Jed and Ramopoulos, Thomas, Worlds Apart? Comparing the Approaches of the European Court of Justice and the EU Legislature to International Law (August 2012). Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies Working Paper No. 96, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2274763 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2274763

Jan Wouters (Contact Author)

KU Leuven - Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies ( email )

House De Dorlodot - Deberiotstraat 34
Leuven, B-3000
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://www.globalgovernancestudies.eu

Jed Odermatt

Centre of Excellence for International Courts (iCourts) ( email )

Nørregade 10
Copenhagen, København DK-1165
Denmark

The City Law School ( email )

Northampton Square
London, EC1V OHB
United Kingdom
EC1V 0HB (Fax)

Thomas Ramopoulos

KU Leuven - Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies ( email )

Van Evenstraat 2B
Charles Deberiotstraat 34
Leuven, B-3000
Belgium

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