EU Enlargement and the Constitutions of Central and Eastern Europe

This book explores the adaptation of the constitutions of Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) for membership in the European Union.

Anneli Albi (Author)

9780521845410, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 June 2005

290 pages, 18 tables
23.5 x 16 x 2.5 cm, 0.599 kg

In the wake of the EU's biggest enlargement, this book explores the adaptation of the constitutions of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) for membership in the European Union. In response to the painful past, these new constitutions were notably closed to transfer of powers to international organizations, and accorded a prominent status to sovereignty and independence. A little more than a decade later, the process of amending these provisions in view of the transfer of sovereign powers to a supranational organization has proved a sensitive and controversial exercise. This book analyses the amendments against the background of comparative experience and theory of sovereignty, as well as the context of political sensitivities, such as rising euroscepticism ahead of accession referendums.

Acknowledgements
Table of cases
Table of treaties, laws and other instruments
List of tables
List of abbreviations
Introduction
1. Overview of the accession process
2. Constitutional adaptations in the 'old' member states
3. Some idiosyncrasies of CEE constitutions
4. Constitutional issues in the pre-accession period
5. Revision of CEE constitutions for EU membership
6. Theoretical views to sovereignty and democratic legitimacy in CEE
7. Referendums
8. Membership of NATO and other international organizations
9. Role of constitutional courts
10. Implications of the European Constitution
Epilogue
Bibliography
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Laws of Specific jurisdictions [LN], Comparative law [LAM], International relations [JPS]