EU law has developed a unique and complex system under which the Union and its Member States can both act under international law, separately, jointly or in parallel. International law was not set up to deal with such complex and hybrid arrangements, which raise questions under both international and EU law. This book assesses how EU law has been adapted to cope with the constraints of international law in situations in which the EU and its Member States act jointly in relations with other States and international organisations. In an innovative scholarly approach, reflecting this duality, each chapter is jointly written by a team of two authors. The various contributions offer new insights into the tension that continues to exist between EU and international law obligations in relation to the (joint) participation of the EU and its Member States in international agreements.

"EU law has developed a unique and complex system under which the Union and its member states can both act under international law. Ultimately though, international law was not set up to deal with complex and hybrid arrangements, leading to confusion: a situation which no doubt will be further complicated by the UK's status after Brexit. This book looks at how EU law has learned to cope with the constraints of international law when dealing this joint participation. In an innovative scholarly approach, its methodology mirrors this duality with each chapter being written by a team of 2 authors. This offers a unique dual perspective on long debated questions. Anchored by this strong organising framework, the essays look at questions of: constitutional law, international law, joint participation and joint agreements. The collection is timely, as the a unique and complex system under which the Union and its member states can both act under international law is facing new challenges, not least in the face of Brexit."--

This work focuses on the EU’s participation in the Dispute Settlement Proceedings (DSP) of the WTO for matters of non-conferred competences. The underlying thesis is that the joint membership of the EU and its Member States is fallacious, in that it could cause the EU to become responsible for violations of the WTO regulations on the part of the Member States. Such fallacies are rooted in the blurred nature of the distribution of powers in the EU polity.In order to tackle the issue of international responsibility, the analysis is based on the facts of a real-world case. Based on the tenets of public international law, the law of mixed agreements and the EU constitutional principles, the book puts forward a model for the EU’s participation in the DSP, and for the reallocation of burdens to the respective responsible entity. This proposition deconstructs the joint responsibility regime and endorses a solution that could address the issue of responsibility in mixed agreements without a declaration of powers.

Prompted by recent events in the EU’s international environmental cooperation, this thought-provoking book explores the establishment and use of multilateral environmental compliance mechanisms as part of the EU’s external environmental action. Expanding upon current discussions in external relations law, this timely book uses a doctrinal approach to analyse EU engagement with this key instrument of treaty-based international environmental governance.

In this highly topical second edition of EU Trade Law, Rafael Leal-Arcas presents a thorough analysis of EU law and policy in the field of international trade with an updated focus on sustainability. This updated edition provides a clear overview of the substantive and procedural aspects of EU trade law and policy, balancing problems and solutions using timely case studies.

The Oxford Guide to Treaties is the authoritative reference point for anyone studying or involved in the creation or interpretation of treaties and other forms of international agreement. For centuries, treaties have regulated relations among nation states. Today, they are the dominant source of international law. From trade relations to greenhouse gases, from shipwrecks to cybercrime, treaties structure the rights and obligations of states, international organizations, and individuals. Being adept with treaties and international agreements is thus an indispensable skill for anyone engaged in international relations, including international lawyers, diplomats, international organization officials, and representatives of non-governmental organizations. This second edition of the award-winning volume from Professor Duncan B. Hollis provides a comprehensive guide to treaties, shedding light on the rules and practices surrounding the making, interpretation, and operation of these instruments. Foundational issues are covered, from defining treaties and their alternatives, to examining current theorizations about the treaty in international law. Chapters review specific stages in the treaty's life-cycle, including formation, application, interpretation, and exit. Special issues associated with treaties involving the European Union and other international organizations are also included. A section sampling over four hundred actual treaty clauses complements these scholarly treatments. These real examples help illustrate different approaches treaty-makers can take on topics such as entry into force, languages, reservations, and amendments.

The European Community and its member states have shared competences in marine environmental matters. As a consequence, they have jointly acceded to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) and most marine-related international agreements, which have been concluded in form of “mixed agreements”. This book looks at the manner in which the Community implements its international obligations in the specific fields of the prevention of oil pollution from ships, the regulation of ocean dumping and the protection of marine habitats through the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), especially looking at the division of competence with the member states and the conformity of the Community’s regulatory action with the jurisdictional framework established by the LOSC. By examining the subject from both a law of the sea and EC law perspectives, the books offers a comprehensive and interesting picture of the action taken by the Community to preserve the European marine environment.

This book offers the first thorough legal analysis of the practice of mixity since the Lisbon Treaty, providing the perspectives of international, EU, and national law. It sets out a detailed theoretical understanding of mixity, the common commercial policy, and the recent case law of the EU Court of Justice. It assesses recent practice and current challenges, such as the non-ratification of mixed agreements, ensuring parliamentary participation in EU treaty-making, the new architecture for concluding EU trade and investment agreements, as well as the new trade agreement between the EU and the UK post-Brexit. In so doing, the author argues that in the field of trade and investment, mixity is no longer a procedural technique to overcome legal uncertainties about competence allocations between the EU and the Member States. Instead, mixity has become a deliberate substantive design choice. This brings a fresh and innovative perspective to a key tenet of EU external relations law.

How are foreign relations constitutionally structured in federal unions? How does the foreign affairs constitution of the European Union - itself a federal union in all but name - compare to that of other federal unions? Foreign Relations Federalism: The EU in Comparative Perspective addresses these questions. It offers a comparative analysis of the constitutional framework in which foreign relations are conducted in four federal unions: the United States, Canada, Belgium, and the European Union. The EU takes up a special position in the book. Over a decade since the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force, the EU's foreign affairs constitution continues to evolve. New institutional practices emerge and cases continue to be brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union. The pace of constitutional change is fast, and there is a sustained need for critical and constructive legal analysis of that change. By comparing the constitutional experience of the EU to that of other federal unions, Foreign Relations Federalism contributes to fulfilling this need. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the EU's constitutional development, the role of the EU in foreign affairs, and the constitutional treatment of foreign relations in federal unions other than the EU.

This comprehensive Research Handbook discusses how the EU has used its regulatory power to steer towards environmentally friendly behaviour, delving into the deep concerns related to the compliance with and enforcement of EU environmental law. It also highlights the important role of civil society’s use of environmental procedural rights, and characterizes how the CJEU case law has contributed to the effective implementation of EU environmental legislation.