Lawmaking in the European Union

The lawmaking process of the European Union is a topic of primary concern not only for academics from a variety of disciplines, but also for politicians and for citizens of the EU in general. Lawmaking in the European Union will be of interest to all such people, and covers every aspect of this subject in a unique and comprehensive manner. Part I of the book considers issues relating to democracy and legitimacy within the Union, topics which have been the subject of increased debate in recent years. Using a comparative perspective, Part II explores the role of the European Parliament and national parliaments in the European lawmaking process. The focus shifts in Part III to institutional interaction. The contributions within this section highlight the way in which lawmaking operates in the diverse subject areas which fall within the competence of the Community and the Union, emphasizing the way in which major players interact when passing new legislation. Finally, Part IV considers problems relating to the harmonisation, implementation and incorporation of Community law within the Member States. The contributors themselves represent a number of different Member States and this provides a valuable wider focus for the inquiry.