Interactions between International Law and EU Law

By Bruno Lebrun

We are continuing our series of brief articles on the actions of the European Union in the international legal order, exploring the legal complexities surrounding its external action and its evolving role on the global stage.

In this new article, Bruno Lebrun examines the complex relationship between International Law and EU Law, focusing on the delicate balance between the EU’s autonomy as a legal order and its openness to international norms.

The article looks in particular at the constitutional autonomy of EU Law, the place of International Law within the EU legal order, and the Kadi judgments as a key illustration of the tensions between both systems. It raises a fundamental question: how can the European Union remain embedded in the international legal order while preserving its own constitutional framework?