Europe’s Courts as Allies: Adjudicating Fundamental Rights in a Polarised Age 

(3 October 2025) 

Although Europe’s highest courts – the CJEU and the ECtHR – are sometimes portrayed as rivals, they are, above all, allies in the adjudication of fundamental rights. Felix Ronkes Agerbeek explains that Europe’s courts can draw strength from the ECHR, the Charter, and from each other. Cases in areas such as climate, migration, and foreign affairs illustrate that the deepest tensions lie not between courts, but between courts and politics, especially in an age of polarisation.  

The Collapse of Political Norms under Trump 

(4 November 2025) 

President Donald Trump has been criticised for breaking numerous political norms during his two presidencies, including the norm against launching criminal investigations of political opponents. The idea is that even when a president doesn’t violate the law, they are (or should be) bound by important political norms that help ensure democratic functioning. But what does it mean to say that a political norm exists – does it reflect fundamental political commitments akin to constitutional constraints, or is it simply a product of recurring political behaviour?  

Judges too Wise for our Own Good: Is Anyone Still Protecting Civil Liberties in France? 

(10 November 2025) 

Drawing on his recent book ‘Des Juges Bien Trop Sages’, co-authored with Stéphanie Hennette-Vauchez, Professor Antoine Vauchez questions whether judges still act as effective guardians of fundamental rights in times of democratic backsliding. Focusing on France’s highest courts, the analysis suggests that, in moments requiring robust checks on power, such as lengthy states of emergency, judges have often accommodated executive authority, contributing to a broader crisis of legitimacy and weakening the protection of civil liberties. 

The use, misuse and non-use of the EU’s rule of law toolbox 

(8 December 2025) 

Professor Pech offers a critical overview of the evolution of the EU’s rule of law toolbox since 2012, when concerns were already being raised about new threats to democratic governance within the Union. This lecture highlights patterns such as inconsistent use of the toolbox, a preference for redesigning instruments rather than deploying existing ones, and restrictive interpretations that delay meaningful action. Such dynamics indicate that political considerations have unduly shaped EU responses, widening the gap between the Union’s assertive rhetoric and its actual practice.