Identifying Individual Rights in EU Law

23 Pages Posted: 20 Jul 2017

See all articles by Herwig C.H. Hofmann

Herwig C.H. Hofmann

Universite du Luxembourg - Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance

Catherine Warin

University of Luxembourg

Date Written: July 17, 2017

Abstract

After six decades of development of EU law, the concept of an ‘individual right’ under EU law is still evolving and diverging concepts of the notion of an individual right are in use. This is problematic since the notion of an individual right is central to the entire legal system. Under the principle of Ubi Ius Ibi Remedium the identification of the individual right grants the access to judicial protection before national courts and the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) including in the context of claims to damages for violations of EU law. The concept of an individual right defines and delimits of the scope of the possible direct effect of EU law in its Member States’ legal systems and is the distinctive characteristic distinguishing rights from principles under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The concept of an ‘individual right’ under EU law is thus a central matter for EU constitutional law as well as EU administrative law. This article discusses various approaches to the concept and presents a model allowing for consistent interpretation and application of EU legal acts by Union bodies as well as by Member States legislatures, administrations and courts.

Suggested Citation

Hofmann, Herwig C.H. and Warin, Catherine, Identifying Individual Rights in EU Law (July 17, 2017). University of Luxembourg Law Working Paper No. 004-2017, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3003809 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3003809

Herwig C.H. Hofmann (Contact Author)

Universite du Luxembourg - Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance ( email )

4 rue Alphonse Weicker
Luxembourg, L-2721
Luxembourg

Catherine Warin

University of Luxembourg ( email )

162a, avenue de la Faïencerie
Luxembourg-Limpertsberg, L-1511
Luxembourg

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
341
Abstract Views
1,295
Rank
161,360
PlumX Metrics