Lawmaking in the European Union

The law-making 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. This text should be of interest to all such people, and covers every aspect of this subject. 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 the 1990s. Part II explores the role of Parliaments in the law-making process, including both that of the European Parliament and of national parliaments. The focus shifts in Part III to institutional interaction. The contributions within this section highlight the way in which law making operates in the diverse subject areas which fall within the competence of the Community and the Union, emphasizing the way in which the major players interact when passing new legislation. Finally, Part IV considers problems relating to the harmonization, implementation and incorporation of Community law within the Member States. The W.G. Hart Legal Workshop is organized under the auspices of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies of the University of London.