During the last decade, Sweden was criticized by the European Commission for having a low number of preliminary references sent to the European Court of Justice by Swedish courts. Since then, new case law has emerged along with an amendment of the Swedish statute.

The outcome of the UK referendum on membership of the European Union prompted a considerable interest in the modalities of a member state’s withdrawal from the EU. This new European Policy Analysis examines the specific provisions governing this process, viz.

Direct elections to the European Parliament started in 1979. However, participation in these elections has always been significantly lower than participation in national elections.

The European Court of Justice plays a central role in the EU, but its importance as a political arena for conflicts regarding how to interpret the EU´s legislation is less known. In this report, based on unique material, the authors analyse how the Member States position themselves within the framework of preliminary Court rulings.

The Lisbon Treaty granted the EU with legislative power in the area of criminal law, which is a development that SIEPS has paid attention to in several previous publications.  In the current report, the author sheds new light on the area by comparing the evolving EU criminal justice law with US federal criminal justice law.

Contentious changes in the laws of Poland and Hungary have deepened concerns about disregard for the rule of law in the European Union. This analysis suggests that Member States have entrusted the Union with a legal mandate and means to ensure respect for the rule of law, including at national level.

The historical development and legislative framework of, on the one hand, the area of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ) and the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) on the other reflect essential components of a security-identity continuum in the EU. The author of this analysis argues that these components exist in the form of a specific attitude of the EU to the global scene, illustrated by the EU’s attempts to export its own values.

On 27 September Catalonia will hold elections to the regional parliament. The relation between Catalonia and Spain have become the central theme of these elections.

Liberal political theory, with its roots in the European enlightenment, has had profound impact on the classic-liberal criminal law movement all over Europe. The basic idea is that criminal law should be used to a minimum extent.

On the path towards the UK’s upcoming in-out referendum, the UK faces three dilemmas: first, they seek shallower integration at a time when their peers want to deepen it; second, the antagonism to deepening may obstruct what is considered to be necessary changes for the EU and the Eurozone to function effectively; and third, the UK’s demands may spur similar initiatives from other member states who are discontent with aspects of their membership. The author of this European Policy Analysis warns that too far-reaching demands may cause other members to conclude they are better off without the UK.