The Legitimacy Of Eu Criminal Law

This book traces the history of the EU competence, EU policy discourse and EU legislation in the field of criminalisation from Maastricht until the present day. It asks 'Why EU Criminal Law?' looking at what rationales the Treaty, policy document and legislation put forth when deciding whether a certain behaviour should be a criminal offence. To interpret the EU approach to criminalisation, it relies on both modern and post-modern theoretical frameworks on the legitimacy of criminal law, read jointly with the theories on the functions of EU harmonisation of national law. The book demonstrates that while EU constitutional law leans towards an effectiveness-based, enforcement-driven, understanding of criminal law, the EU has in fact in more than one instance adopted symbolic EU criminal law, ie criminal law aimed at highlighting what values are important to the EU, but which is not fit to actually deter individuals from harming such values. The book then questions whether this approach is consistent or in contradiction with the values-based constitutional identity the EU has set for itself.

Whereas previous studies of legitimacy and trust have mostly dealt with procedural justice and the police, this book focuses on other crucial understudied aspects of legitimacy within criminal law, policy and criminal justice. The chapters expand and develop current criminological, legal and socio-legal research by addressing conceptions of legitimacy linked to criminal law norms, criminalisation and sanctioning; by examining EU legal and policy aspects of the phenomenon; and by exploring some specific court-related issues of legitimacy and trust, hitherto neglected. With contributions from across the EU, this interdisciplinary collection presents a valuable discussion on the importance of trust in legal institutions of modern democracies and suggests ideas for future research in this area to challenge ways of thinking about legitimacy.

The EU now possesses a clear legal basis for taking action on criminal law matters and steering the policy and practice of Member States in relation to crime and criminal law. However, for what is now an important area of law, there remains a striking absence or uncertainty regarding its theoretical basis, its legitimacy and its conceptual vocabulary. This book offers a review of the significance of EU criminal law and crime policy as a rapidly emerging phenomenon in European law and governance. Bringing together an international set of contributors, the book questions the nature, role and objectives of such 'criminal law', its relationship with other areas of EU policy and law, and the established rules of criminal law and criminal justice at the Member State level. Taking up such subjects as the application of criminal law across national boundaries and in the broader European context, effective enforcement, and the working out of a new European policy, the book helps to structure an increasingly significant subject in law which is still finding its direction. The book will be of great use and interest to researchers and students of EU law, criminal justice, and criminology.

The book examines how and according to which principles the enactment of European criminal legislation is legitimate. The approach adopted here focuses on the constitutionalization of criminal law (i.e., the growing importance of constitutional elements of the EU legal order and the ECHR regime within criminal law). Further, it shows how and why criminal law has a unique nature, and why it should not be equated with other fields of EU law.The book explains the basic research questions and methodologies, before turning to the nature of criminal law at the level of national law, and addressing the different levels of justification for criminal law. Further, it examines the most prominent features of European criminal law and the difference between general EU law and EU criminal law, as well as the theoretical ideals for European constitutional structures and criminal law. Examples of how the law in practice might not always be in keeping with these normative ideals serve to round out the coverage.

This book develops a theory for the principle of legality in European criminal law. Its focus is on the legitimising and normative functions of this principle.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK “...essential reading for anyone interested in the existence and exercise of EU powers in the field of criminal law. Öberg's critical examination of the constitutional constraints to EU action also raises many questions that are of great interest in other areas of EU competence. The book deserves a wide readership among scholars interested in the constitutional workings of the European Union.” Samuli Miettinen, University of Helsinki & Tallinn University "The main strength of this book lies in its comprehensiveness of dealing with the topical issue of EU regulatory criminal law from the fascinating perspective of limits to EU powers. Its particular contribution to existing scholarship in the field of EU criminal law concerns its focus on judicial checks on the exercise of competences as to which the book offers a convincing proposal for a stricter standard for judicial review in matters of regulatory criminal law and beyond." Professor Jannemieke Ouwerkerk, Leiden Law School "An excellent read on competence allocation in EU law and what it means in criminal law context. This book guides the reader through very complex questions of the contours of subsidiarity, national competences and the exact limits of EU powers. It also supplies up to date case studies of financial crimes and the need for the EU to act effectively and thereby increase confidence in the market and the challenges it may cause for national systems. A very timely contribution." Ester Herlin Karnell, VU University Amsterdam Pursuant to the precepts of EU law, EU policy-makers are bound to ensure that any EU legislation must fall within the remit of the EU's competences. This monograph looks at this highly contested issue, with particular reference to European Union criminal law. It looks at the powers enjoyed by the EU to impose criminal sanctions to suggest mechanisms by which legislative powers could be kept in check. The book argues that the main responsibility for providing checks against the exercise of EU power lies with the EU judiciary. It argues that the most effective form of review is procedural and through the case study of sanctions, provides the basis for such a review. Innovative, engaging and rigorous, this is an important publication both in the field of European criminal and constitutional law.

This book provides a clear picture of the issues of legal and social legitimacy which surround criminal measures relating to trafficking in human beings in six Member States and the EU. It includes and explains the legal nature of the types of measures which have been adopted and the presentation of criminal sanctions and the positions taken by key actors in civil society.