The precautionary principle under EU law: a postmodern principle in a post-truth era

in Farah, Paolo (Ed.) Science, Policy and International Law (in press)

We live in a post-truth society, where “objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” In this context, the core claim of this chapter is that ... [more ▼]

We live in a post-truth society, where “objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” In this context, the core claim of this chapter is that to understand the definition and implications of the post-truth society, it is necessary to analyze the theoretical framework under which the concept of post-truth emerged: post-modernism. Under the theoretical framework of post-modernism, the analysis of the precautionary principle is utterly significant since it can be defined as a “paradigmatic principle” of post-modern law. Indeed, as this chapter will demonstrate, the precautionary principle shares the same features of flexibility (in its double dimension of smooth and adaptable principle) and complexity (as an interdisciplinary principle negotiated by scientific experts and political decision-makers) that belong to post-modern principles. [less ▲]

The precautionary principle and the authorisation of Covid-19 vaccines under EU

E-print/Working paper (2021)

The decision of the EU Commission, based on positive advice from the European Medicines Agency, to grant conditional marketing authorisation to Covid-19 vaccines should be qualified as a precautionary ... [more ▼]

The decision of the EU Commission, based on positive advice from the European Medicines Agency, to grant conditional marketing authorisation to Covid-19 vaccines should be qualified as a precautionary measure. Under the established case law of the CJEU, the conditions for the application of this principle are met. Such conditions are the existence of a risk to the environment and public health and uncertainty. Given this qualification as a precautionary measure, whether the Commission had complied with the procedural obligations that surround the implementation of this principle under EU law was assessed. Some shortcomings are identified concerning the risk assessment conducted by the European Medicines Agency and the risk management carried out by the Commission. [less ▲]

Vaccination policies in Europe: a comparative study between selected countries” under the request, and for the benefit of, the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Report (2021)

This report sets forth the main findings of the research that we carried out at the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg under the request, and for the benefit of, the Ministry of Health of Luxembourg.

Affaire Commission c/ Italie du 5 septembre 2019 : des manquements de l’Italie et des limites du principe de précaution dans la gestion de la crise de la Xylella

in Revue Européenne de Droit de la Consommation (2021)

L’affaire Commission c/ Italie du 5 septembre 2019 marque une étape importante dans la gestion de la crise de la Xylella. En condamnant l’Italie pour avoir manqué à ses obligations d’enlèvement de ... [more ▼]

L’affaire Commission c/ Italie du 5 septembre 2019 marque une étape importante dans la gestion de la crise de la Xylella. En condamnant l’Italie pour avoir manqué à ses obligations d’enlèvement de végétaux infectés par la Xylella et de vigilance de la progression de cette bactérie, la Cour de justice indique aux autres États membres la voie à suivre pour essayer de contenir la diffusion de cette bactérie « tueuse » d’oliviers. À partir de cet arrêt, on s’interroge sur les limites du principe de précaution qui, bien qu’évoqué comme instrument de prévention et de gestion de la crise de la Xylella, n’a pas permis d’arrêter la propagation de cette bactérie non seulement en Italie, mais aussi, désormais, en France, en Espagne et au Portugal. [less ▲]

Climate Change and Pandemics: The Need for a Renewed EU Risk-Management Strategy

in Comparative Law Yearbook of International Business (2021)

Coronavirus and climate change are not two different crises. They represent two sides of the same significant turmoil relating to the progressive degradation of our environmental and health ecosystems ... [more ▼]

Coronavirus and climate change are not two different crises. They represent two sides of the same significant turmoil relating to the progressive degradation of our environmental and health ecosystems. Against this backdrop, and in light of, not only, the cyclical time of pandemics, but also of the predictable occurrence of a new pandemic associated with the worsening of the climate crisis, what should EU law do to prevent and better manage the occurrence of such risks? To answer this question, the core claim of this paper is that the EU should implement a common, coordinated, and consistent risk management strategy. [less ▲]

Climate change and pandemics: the EU risk-management strategy under scrutiny

E-print/Working paper (2020)

Coronavirus and climate change are not two different crises. They represent two sides of the same significant turmoil relating to the progressive degradation of our environmental and health ecosystems ... [more ▼]

Coronavirus and climate change are not two different crises. They represent two sides of the same significant turmoil relating to the progressive degradation of our environmental and health ecosystems. Against this backdrop, and in light of, not only, the cyclical time of pandemics, but also of the predictable occurrence of a new pandemic associated with the worsening of the climate crisis, what should EU law do to prevent and better manage the occurrence of such risks? To answer this question, the core claim of this paper is that the EU should implement a common, coordinated, and consistent risk management strategy [less ▲]

L’exposition aux ondes électromagnétiques et la régulation juridique de la 5G en Europe: une analyse comparée

in Juris News droit de l'environnement (2020)

Vers un renforcement du contrôle juridictionnel à la Cour de justice de l’Union européenne ? L’exemple du contentieux du principe de précaution

in Cahiers de Droit Européen (2020)

L’analyse du contentieux du principe de précaution démontre qu’une évolution discrète et peu assumée peut être perçue dans la jurisprudence de la Cour de justice de l’Union européenne. En principe, la ... [more ▼]

L’analyse du contentieux du principe de précaution démontre qu’une évolution discrète et peu assumée peut être perçue dans la jurisprudence de la Cour de justice de l’Union européenne. En principe, la Cour déclare se borner à un contrôle restreint dans son intensité à l’appréciation d’une erreur manifeste et limité dans son objet à l’évaluation de la légalité des mesures prises par les décideurs, à l’exclusion des avis scientifiques rendus par les experts en amont de celles-ci. Cependant, de facto la Cour opère parfois un contrôle juridictionnel renforcé. Ce renforcement se traduit par l’approfondissement, sur le plan procédural, de l’intensité du contrôle et par l’élargissement, sur le plan substantiel, de son objet pour y inclure l’appréciation des données scientifiques à la base de l’adoption des mesures de précaution. [less ▲]

Discretionary power, scientific uncertainty and right to life in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic: Lessons learnt from the Administrative Tribunal of Guadeloupe and the French Council of State

in European Journal of Risk Regulation (2020)

Administrative Tribunal of Guadeloupe 28 March 2020, case n° 2000295 (Judge for interim relief); French Council of State 4 April 2020, cases n° 439904, 439905 (Judge for interim relief) Based on the ... [more ▼]

Administrative Tribunal of Guadeloupe 28 March 2020, case n° 2000295 (Judge for interim relief); French Council of State 4 April 2020, cases n° 439904, 439905 (Judge for interim relief) Based on the precautionary principle and to protect the right to life under Article L. 521-2 of the French Code of Administrative Justice, the Administrative Tribunal of Guadeloupe (Judge for interim relief) ordered the Regional Health Agency of Guadeloupe and the University Hospital Centre of Guadeloupe to procure 200,000 COVID-19 screening tests corresponding to half of the population of Guadeloupe and to buy the doses necessary for the treatment of the COVID-19 epidemic with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for 20,000 patients. On appeal, the French Council of State, by disregarding the application of the precautionary principle and with controversial reasoning concerning the relationship between discretionary power and scientific uncertainty, annulled the decision of the Administrative Tribunal of Guadeloupe. [less ▲]

Oral hearings at the CJEU

in Max Planck Encyclopedia of International Procedural Law (2020)