Blog: The German Constitutional Court and the ESM: What’s at stake?

The German Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe were due to issue a crucial verdict on the legality of the ESM and the Fiscal Compact on the 12 September 2012 - which was eagerly awaited by decision makers and citizens not only in Germany but across Europe. In this blog post, Carlino Antpöhler, a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg, explains the legal background and looks at the Court's options.

ESO: Background information: German lawsuit challenges rescue fund http://www.europeansources.info/record/german-lawsuit-challenges-rescue-fund/

ESO: Background information: Court May Take Longer to Rule on Euro Measures http://www.europeansources.info/record/court-may-take-longer-to-rule-on-euro-measures/

Germany: Federal Constitutional Court http://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/en/index.html

ESO: Background information: Twin threats to eurozone stability recede http://www.europeansources.info/record/twin-threats-to-eurozone-stability-recede/

Deutsche Welle, 10.9.12: German top court may seek readjustment to ESM http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16229513,00.html

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 11.9.12: Karlsruhe court gives ESM breathing space (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/2674091-karlsruhe-court-gives-esm-breathing-space

EUObserver, 12.9.12: Bundestag powers over bailout fund key to German court approval http://euobserver.com/institutional/117507

Spiegel Online International, 11.9.12: What's at Stake in the Euro Rescue Fund Ruling? http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-esm-ruling-issues-at-stake-in-the-euro-rescue-fund-ruling-a-855183.html

---