Governing the Urban Dimension of European Law

ended

‘GUD EU Law – Governing the Urban Dimension of EU Law’ explores how constitutional principles can enhance integration of urban policies with the European Union (EU) legal order. It critically analyses EU judgements and practices of the EU Urban Agenda to provide a richer understanding of how EU law impacts environmental sustainability and social inequalities in EU cities. Based on this, it will advance proposals for a refashioned interpretation of constitutional principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, constructing an empirically-based understanding of when and how EU institutions should regulate policies with implications on urban spaces. GUD EU Law innovatively combines doctrinal legal research with critical geography’s contextual case analysis and semi-structured interviews to experts. Conceptually, it analyses trends the effects of EU law on urban spaces reveal about limits and possibilities of the EU to solve urgent societal issues, advancing debates on constitutionalism, policy and sociology. To achieve these objectives, I will be supervised by Prof. Le Galès at Sciences Po’s Center for EU Studies and Comparative Politics, a top institute home to one of the largest multidisciplinary groups studying public policies at EU and city level. Besides enhancing my scientific knowledge and skills, as well as my international network and profile as independent researcher, thereby improving my career opportunities, the project will advance EU research excellence and raise institutional and public awareness about the need for governing the urban dimension of EU law. I will distil findings in two journal articles, and formulate evidence-based proposals to govern the urban dimension of the EU in a policy brief. Dissemination to scientific and policy community will involve an urban lab and a multi-stakeholder conference. Communication to wider audiences will involve a course, a newspaper article, and interactive city maps.