Drifting into Politics: Is Germany’s High Court Anti-European?

Germany's Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) is one of the country's most formidable institutions. Yet recently it has faced criticism for its rulings on the euro and European unification. Have its justices crossed the line between jurisprudence and politics?

The article was written just as the Court gave its latest Europe-related ruling on the 18 March 2014. This time its ruling, supporting Europe's ESM bailout fund, reflected earlier decisions by lower courts which had already provisionally approved the scheme.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: German court boosts small parties' chances in European Parliament [Germany and the European elections 2014] http://www.europeansources.info/record/german-court-boosts-small-parties-chances-in-european-parliament-germany-and-the-european-elections-2014/

ESO: Background information: The German Constitutional Court's ruling on the ECB's bond buying decision http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-german-constitutional-courts-ruling-on-the-ecbs-bond-buying-decision/

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/

Süddeutsche Zeitung, 19.03.14: German court misses chance for EU politics (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE140342-German-court-misses-chance-for-EU-politics

Deutsche Welle, 18.03.14: High court upholds eurozone bailout scheme http://dw.de/p/1BRG5

Germany: Federal Constitutional Court: Press Release, 18.03.14: Constitutional Complaints and Organstreit Proceedings Against European Stability Mechanism and Fiscal Compact Without Success https://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/en/press/bvg14-023en.html

http://euobserver.com/institutional/123761 http://euobserver.com/institutional/123761

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