Author: Daniel Gibson
-
Solving Mixity by Sidelining Consent
Question: Has the EU solved ‘mixity’ at the cost of democracy? Argument: The ‘split-and-apply’ doctrine, refined after Wallonia’s 2016 near-veto of CETA and now deployed on EU-Mercosur, lawfully detaches exclusive-competence trade from national ratification — yet removes the forum that once channelled national opposition into the decision. Conclusion: Dissent has not vanished but migrated into…
-
Sovereignty vs. Security
Can the EU establish a sovereign defense force despite rigid legal hurdles and the reluctance of member states to cede national control? Since formal treaty reform is politically blocked by the requirement for unanimity, the only viable path forward is incremental integration through the Rapid Deployment Capacity. While a full European army remains a “legal…
-
Ukraine and the Limits of International Justice
Main question: Can international law truly hold Russia accountable for aggression in Ukraine? Argument: Ukraine has pushed accountability forward through the ICJ, ICC, the Register of Damage, and a Special Tribunal, but each mechanism faces limits of jurisdiction, immunity, and enforcement. Conclusion: The war shows both the strength and the weakness of international justice: it…