There is little research on when civil society actors in the countries from the CEE region mobilize EU law. While usually the focus of legal scholars falls on salient legal decisions of top and supranational courts and their implications; little is known about the perceptions of such decisions by civil society. Do civil society actors in the CEE view litigation as a tool for defending fundamental rights violations? Do they perceive the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), one of the most powerful supranational courts, as their potential ally in such a ‘fight’? Do they consider that rulings rendered by the CJEU have the potential to bring change at domestic level? More insights into the apprehension and internal decision making processes of civil society actors are needed to understand under what conditions they are likely to resort to litigation at supranational level in the current context of democratic backsliding. The project will focus on civil society actors in two CEE countries – Bulgaria and Hungary. Through semi-structured interviews with civil society and judicial representatives, this research project is expected to enhance the understanding on CEE civil society’s perceptions of supranational litigation and its potential for providing effective remedies.
Angelina Atanasova is a PhD Candidate at the Public Law Department at KU Leuven, Belgium. Her PhD research focuses on the role of non-state actors in the judicial dialogue between domestic courts and the CJEU and more specifically in triggering the preliminary ruling procedure in cases related to disability and gender equality.
This Fellow Talk is a closed event.
