Germany: a look at one EU member state's path to 'Europeanization'. EUMA Papers Vol. 6, No. 6, 2009

摘要

This paper will precisely look at Germany’s path to "Europeanization." It will focus on three specific case studies that will demonstrate the relationship between Germany and Europe. The first case study will be on the German Constitution, which, from its creation in 1949, already demonstrated a tendency towards a more integrated Europe. The second case study will be on the German Court system, specifically the German Constitutional Court (the highest court in the land) and its relationship with the European Court of Justice (ECJ). How do these two legal entities relate to one another? To what extent does the German court system apply the decisions of the ECJ? To what extent does the ECJ support the decisions of the German Constitutional Court? Finally, the third case study will look at the future of Germany and Europe, specifically, the "Europeanization" of Germany. It will take into consideration the issue of immigration and citizenship – a crucial topic that hangs in the balance of the future of the European Union.