Constitutionalism studies acquired new scientific interest after the collapse of communism in Europe.

Since the 1990s European constitutional theory and practice have been the theatre of evolutionary dynamics that have carried it eastwards. The legal aspect of the phenomenon form both a domestic and a European perspective has so far often been neglected.

The project is founded on the current trends of constitutionalization in the European continent, triggered and enhanced by the recent enlargement of the Euopean Union (EU) to Central and Eastern Europe.

In the light of what has been a multidimensional accession project, the main research area that will be contemplated is the one that looks at the effects of this enlargement towards the emergence of common constitutional norms and values in Europe.

In this respect, the role of European integration is crucial not so much because the European polity increasingly resembles a state but because of its impact on the constitutional fabric of states that have "return(ed) to Europe".

Objectives

The project objectives are set as follows:

• Enhancement of the understanding of the transfer of constitutional norms (or: "constitutional borrowing") in Europe with emphasis on Central and Eastern Europe;
• Giving CEE scholars an opportunity to study the phenomenon in depth in the context of Swiss and EU perspective;
• Establishment of a roundtable of Swiss and Central and Eastern European experts that will critically assess the dynamics of constitutionalization in CEE; it is expected that this informal group of scholars will continue to function well after the conclusion of the present project, thus making the venture sustainable in the future;
• Strengthening of the existing and establishment of new academic ties between Swiss academic institutions and their CEE counterparts;
• Provision of research opportunities through short study stays of scholars from CEE in Lucerne;
• Raising visibility of the work of aspiring and established scholars in CEE;
• As a side-effect: familiarization of Swiss students with significance and challenges of the "return to Europe" for post-constitutional cultures through teaching performed by guest lectures from CEE.

University of Lucerne, School of Law, Hofstrasse 9, P.O. Box 7464 - CH-6000 Lucerne 7, Switzerland

tel +41 (0)41 228 74 31 fax +41 (0)41 228 74 18