Review of the Balance of Competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union: Fundamental Rights

Tobias Lock 

University of Edinburgh School of Law
January 8, 2014

Edinburgh School of Law Research Paper No. 2014/02 
Abstract:      

This is a submission to the United Kingdom’s Balance of Competence Review on EU fundamental rights. It provides answers to a catalogue of questions compiled by the Ministry of Justice. The questions revolve around the impact (application) of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in the United Kingdom, in particular the UK’s “opt-out” of the Charter and the case law by domestic courts on the Charter so far. It also discusses the differences in the fundamental rights protection provided by the Charter and by the HRA 1998 and the indirect effects the Charter has on the UK legal order. In addition, a short answer is provided to a question concerning the EU’s accession to the ECHR. Furthermore, the submission highlights some legal and cultural challenges for the application of the Charter in the UK.

Keywords: EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; Scope of EU Law; Protocol No. 30; HRA 1998; UK Case Law

Full text available at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2378220