Jean Monnet Saar

Europafreundlichkeit, positive Integrationsverantwortung und Rechtsstaatsprinzip als Grundlage für eine Neuausrichtung der BVerfG-Rechtsprechung zur EU – EuR Beiheft 2/2026

Soeben ist das von Andreas Th. Müller und Werner Schroeder herausgegebene Beiheft „Europarechtsfreundlichkeit“ der Zeitschrift Europarecht erschienen. Der darin enthaltene Beitrag zeigt, warum Europafreundlichkeit und Integrationsverantwortung zusammengedacht werden müssen. Thomas Giegerich hält hier seine zentralen Thesen fest.

Art. 2 EUV im Vertragsverletzungsverfahren: EuGH-Urteil zum ungarischen Anti-LGBTI-Gesetz macht EU zur wehrhaften Demokratie

Das EuGH-Urteil zum ungarischen Anti-LGBTI-Gesetz markiert einen wichtigen Schritt für den Schutz der gemeinsamen Werte der Union. Der neue Saar Brief von Prof. Dr. Thomas Giegerich zeigt, warum Art. 2 EUV im Vertragsverletzungsverfahren eigenständig durchsetzbar ist und weshalb die EU damit demokratisch-rechtsstaatlichen Rückschritten in den Mitgliedstaaten entschlossener entgegentreten kann.

The Mutual Defence Clause in the European Union: An Analysis of its Past, Present and Future

This Saar Blueprint addresses a question of growing urgency: how is Europe legally equipped to respond to armed aggression? Against the backdrop of Russia’s war against Ukraine and Ukraine’s potential EU accession, it compares NATO’s collective defence clause with the EU’s mutual assistance clause and examines their respective conditions and legal consequences.

Sexual and Gender Minorities in International Law and European Union Law: Thomas Giegerich’s Farewell Conference

The farewell conference for Thomas Giegerich, held on 12 and 13 March 2026, explored the protection of sexual and gender minorities across international law, EU law, sports law, and U.S. law. The contributions highlighted both important legal progress and persistent forms of backlash, showing how closely questions of dignity, equality, and identity remain tied to broader struggles over the future of human rights. This contribution provides a brief overview of the conference’s central themes and discussions.

Menschenrechtsrisiken in KI-Systemen und der Balanceakt regulatorischer Maßnahmen: Eine Analyse des Spannungsfelds zwischen Menschenrechtsförderung und -gefährdung am Beispiel der KI-Verordnung der EU und des Rahmenübereinkommens des Europarats

Künstliche Intelligenz birgt erhebliche Chancen für den Menschenrechtsschutz, wirft zugleich aber neue Risiken für Freiheit, Gleichheit und demokratische Teilhabe auf. Der Saar Blueprint untersucht, wie Europa diesen Herausforderungen regulatorisch begegnet, analysiert das Rahmenübereinkommen des Europarats und die KI-Verordnung der EU und ordnet beide Ansätze in den globalen Kontext der Regulierungsstrategien der USA und Chinas ein. Im Mittelpunkt steht die Frage, wie wirksam die europäischen Schutzmechanismen tatsächlich sind und wo trotz normativer Klarheit weiterhin Lücken und Spannungen zwischen Grundrechtsschutz, Innovation und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit bestehen.

23. Dezember 2024 Europarecht / Völker- und Europarecht

An example of EU cooperation – The EU inter-state and institutional cooperation for the annual fishery quotas adoption

In December 2024, the EU’s AGRIFISH Council finalized the fishing quotas for 2025. This Saar Brief spotlights a complex web of institutional and inter-state cooperation. The agreement balances sustainable fish stock recovery with the socio-economic needs of European fishermen, reflecting the EU’s commitment to responsible fisheries management. As the third-largest global fisheries producer, the EU faces challenges like overfishing, ecosystem changes, and socio-economic pressures. This shows the important role of collaboration in shaping a sustainable blue economy.

17. Dezember 2024 Aktuelles

Prof. Thomas Giegerich: The Rule of Law, Fundamental Rights, the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and the ECHR: Quartet of Constant Dissonance?

In his newest publication, Prof. Giegerich postulates that the jurisdiction over the CFSP remains limited, leaving parts of EU foreign policy beyond judicial review. This creates a rule-of-law blind spot that clashes with the EU’s fundamental values under Article 2 TEU. While EU accession to the ECHR may reduce this tension, only a Treaty revision can fully close the gap and restore the EU’s credibility as a rule-of-law champion.

16. Dezember 2024 EuGH / Europarecht / Saar Case Notes

Streamline of the applicable tests between Art. 101 and 102 TFEU on restrictions by effect – Analysis of CJEU Judgment C-606/23 “KIA autos”

In a landmark ruling on December 5, 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union clarified that sufficiently significant potential restrictive effects are enough to prove violations of Article 101 TFEU—no need for concrete proof of actual harm. The case, sparked by warranty-related restrictions imposed by Kia Auto in Latvia, aligns the assessment of “by effect” restrictions with the well-established “effects-based approach” under Article 102 TFEU.

11. Dezember 2024 EuGH / Europäisches Völkerrecht / Globaler Menschenrechtsschutz / Saar Case Notes

CJEU’s Landmark Ruling on the EU-Morocco Agreements: The Western Sahara and Front Polisario’s Bittersweet Victory

The CJEU’s Front Polisario II ruling annulled EU-Morocco trade agreements in Western Sahara, reaffirmed the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and required their explicit consent for economic activities. It strengthened the legitimacy of the Front Polisario as their representative, but introduced a controversial ‚benefit test‘ for implied consent. Despite this legal victory, EU leaders remain committed to Morocco, highlighting the tension between law and politics.

18. November 2024 Online-Symposium: AI-Regulation in the EU

Online-Symposium: The global race to regulate Artificial Intelligence – Can the EU once again be a global standard setter?

In our online symposium, we explored various issues concerning regulation of AI in Europe, including its impact on press freedom, policing biases, the right to be offline, and data protection. Concluding the series, Sara D’Arcy Shepherd analyzes the EU’s AI Act, highlighting its potential to set global standards through a “Brussels Effect.”