Constitutional Evolution in Central and Eastern Europe: Expansion and Integration in the EU (Studies in Modern Law and Policy) - Tapa dura

'This is a rare and thorough collection of comparative studies dedicated to the fascinating events at the turn of the century. It includes detailed insights on the return to democracy and the rule of law within a common European constitutional heritage as well as on the preparation of the constitutional acquis for EU enlargement in the first decade of 21st century.' Evgeni Tanchev, Chief Justice of the Bulgarian Constitutional Court and Council of Europe Venice Commission Member 'These high quality contributions focus on fundamental questions of constitutionalism and bring together valuable methodological analysis on the fundamental principles of EU Law in the transition countries, the admirable dialogue between the constitutional and other courts with the ECJ as well as a description of the development of European law in its constitutional context.' Lubos Tichy, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic 'The strength of the volume is its introduction of new voices and perspectives to issues arising from integration in Europe...' Law and Politics Book Review

This book examines EU enlargement by studying how domestic constitutional evolution in the new member states contributes to European integration. In contrast to the usual top-down analytical pattern, it reverses the paradigm by looking at constitutional developments and dynamics from the bottom-up, studying how domestic constitutional evolution contributes to European integration. The authors analyze constitutional trends from the perspective of 'new Member States' as policy-makers and not strictly as policy-takers. The issue of conditionality is also explored in a discussion of the extent to which pre-2004 and 2007 conditionality has had lasting effects at the level of constitutionalization of different areas and norms and if so, of what kind. The exploration of Europeanization effects in recent Member States substantiates and demonstrates how enlargement has been an important driving-force for the effective export of EU legal rules in this region. The book utilizes a comparative approach to highlight the merits and obstacles created by the growing diversity in the constitutional rules and patterns of the new Member States. It also contains a section that places the CEE constitutionalizing map in a broader comparative European and global context, establishing links with similar transitional regimes in the continent and elsewhere.