The European Law Institute (ELI) published the Charter of Fundamental Constitutional Principles of a European Democracy for which Professor Takis Tridimas (Director, LCEL), together with Professor Elise Muir (KULeuven), acted as co-reporters.
The ELI Charter is one of the flagship projects of the ELI. It is the result of a collective effort by leading scholars and jurists. It aspires to have some influence. It identifies and articulates the constitutional principles which form the foundations of a European liberal democratic state. It provides general guidance to public authorities, lawyers, individuals, and civil society on fundamentals expected of democratic states. It contains 36 principles with commentary, and includes principles pertaining to governance and the protection of fundamental rights. Along with reiterating classic premises of the rule of law, it seeks to address contemporary issues such as the protection against disinformation, open government, protection of the environment and sustainability and automated decision-making.
The ELI hopes that the Charter will be drawn upon by legislatures and courts in Europe and beyond, and that it may inspire future constitutional developments. The Charter is both timely and of utmost importance, in times marked by unrest and democratic backsliding.
Both Profs. Tridimas and Muir had overall responsibility for leading the drafting team and bringing the project into fruition.