The European Union is often characterised as a constitutional democracy - a legal order structured around common values, fundamental rights, and judicial review. But what does it mean to describe the European Union as a constitutional democracy? And who ultimately safeguards its values?

The Jacques Delors Centre and Centre for Fundamental Rights at the Hertie School invite you to view a keynote with Tamara Ćapeta, Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The keynote is followed by a panel discussion on the constitutional foundations of the European Union and the role of the Court of Justice in current controversies, such as restrictions on LGBTQ content in Hungary, social housing policies in Denmark, Frontex and pushback operations, and trade agreements in the context of Western Sahara.

Tamara Ćapeta, Advocate General, Court of Justice of the European Union

Violeta Moreno-Lax, Professor of International Law, Director, Centre for Fundamental Rights

Ana Bobić, Senior Researcher, Jacques Delors Centre

Moderated by Mark Dawson, Professor of European Law and Governance, Co-Director, Jacques Delors Centre

At a time of political contestation and growing tensions between integration and national sovereignty, the discussion addresses core questions of EU constitutional democracy: How coherent is the EU’s constitutional system if fundamental rights and constitutional values are differently understood across the Member States? Is the Court of Justice the right institution to actively define and defend the EU’s constitutional values? What role should the Court of Justice play in ensuring constitutional values and fundamental rights vis-à-vis the EU’s own institutions?

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Understand today. Shape tomorrow.

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