Book Launch: Prof Federico Fabbrini 'EU Constitution in Time of War'

Join us on online on 1 April at 11:30am (Dublin time) for the book launch of Professor Federico Fabbrini's 'The EU Constitution in Time of War: Legal Responses to Russia's Aggression against Ukraine', published by Oxford University Press.

The book provides the most comprehensive analysis of how the EU has faced what is arguably the first war since its existence, and examines EU action in five core fields of policy competences: Common Foreign & Security Policy (CFSP), fiscal policy, the Area of Freedom Security & Justice (AFSJ), energy and industrial policy, and enlargement and reforms. The book advances a nuanced three-fold argument: First, it claims that the EU constitution has demonstrated sufficient flexibility to permit wartime actions. Secondly, it highlights the limitations exposed by the return of conventional warfare in Europe, noting structural constraints and governance shortcomings that hinder decisive action, and instances where laws inadequately constrain EU action, particularly regarding fundamental rights and the rule of law. In light of this, the book finally claims that the EU constitution needs to be reformed to face an increasingly hostile geopolitical environment -- a prospect made now even more evident by the US under President Trump negotiating the future of Ukraine directly with Russia, without the involvement of Ukraine or Europe itself.

Chair: Professor Dáire Keogh, President of Dublin City University (DCU)

Speakers:

Giuliano Amato (former Prime Minister of Italy)

Wolfgang Schüssel (former Chancellor of Austria)

Moderator: Shona Murray, Euronews

Conclusions: Professor Federico Fabbrini, Full Professor of EU Law and Founding Director of DCU Brexit Institute and Dublin European Law Institute