The Constitutional Identity of Germany, as Reflected in the Jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union
Keywords:
constitutional identity, Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), Federal Constitutional Court of Germany (Bundesverfassungsgericht), Treaty on European Union (TEU), Outright Monetary Transaction (OMT), European Central Bank (ECB)Abstract
The article begins with a general analysis of the concept of constitutional identity, particularizing this concept as it is perceived and analysed by German doctrine, especially in the vision of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany. The "Solange" doctrine is analysed by referring mainly to the decision C-36/02 - Omega Spielhalen of the CJEU (2004), because it is the significant decision by which the German doctrine stated that German constitutional provisions should have priority over European provisions, when the latter ensure a higher standard of legal protection of fundamental rights. The "ultra vires" doctrine is examined by referring to cases C-62/14 - Gauweiler and Others v Deutscher Bundestag (CJEU, 2015) and C-493/17 - Heinrich Weiss and Others (CJEU, 2018), since the Federal Court of Germany takes upon itself the right to verify whether the institutions of the European Union issue norms in accordance with its attributions.
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