Upcoming Events Calendar

European Union: Solidarity in Question

London, United Kingdom
21 June 2013

The EU's response to the current economic crisis indicates that solidarity is more than an abstract virtue, but in fact is a key element that has significant practical consequences. Yet, the meaning, legal implications and the precise role of solidarity in the different areas of EU law is still an open question. The concept of solidarity is normally associated with national welfare state, which includes tax redistribution and social policies as a consequence of social contract among its citizens. With the development of the European Union from a pure economic organisation to an entity with political, social and human rights dimensions, the concept of solidarity is becoming to play a more substantial role at supranational level. The Treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, secondary EU law and Court of Justice\'s judgments contain numerous references to solidarity, albeit in different contexts: solidarity as a fundamental value of the EU (Articles 2 and 3(3) TEU); solidarity between generations; financial solidarity among EU citizens; solidarity among Member States. The issues become even more complicated, where European solidarity (often seen in the light of mutual Member State co-operation and the importance of effectively functioning internal market) clashes with national solidarity (protection of national welfare state models). These conflicts between national and supranational solidarities pose the task for Member State and the Union institutions (judicial, legislative and executive) of resolving them in the most effective way, which is often quite difficult.

European law scholars, in comparison to researchers in political theory, philosophy, social theory and sociology, have been rather slow to respond in considering the meaning and importance of solidarity in EU law. The existing academic literature explores solidarity only in few areas of European policies and law, including inter alia health, education, environment, migration, welfare and territorial cohesion. There is, however, much room for further research on the concept of solidarity, especially from a legal point of view.

This Workshop organisers invite papers that explore the multi-faceted concept of solidarity in European law, especially in the areas not yet touched upon by legal academic debate. In particular, we are keen to receive scholarly work on the role of the principle of solidarity in EU constitutional law; solidarity in natural and man-made disasters (e.g. terrorism) as embedded in the new Article 222 TFEU; solidarity as a value ‘exported’ by the Union in its relations with third countries (Article 21 TEU); solidarity and EU energy policy (security of supply); solidarity of Member States in regards to the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice; solidarity in the cohesion policy, state aid, and the EU\'s response to the current financial crisis.

The organising committee welcomes contributions from researchers at any stage of their academic careers. All full papers will be posted on the Workshop website. Subsequently, the organising committee intends to seek publication of a selection of these papers in more permanent form.

Abstracts of the proposed papers (300 words max) should be sent by email attachment by 15 January 2013 to cel@kcl.ac.uk. Reasonable travel expenses of the selected presenters will be covered.