Abstract (English)

The loyalty principle or Article 10 EC is ever-present in Community and Union law in technical matters of intra-institutional cooperation and the groundbreaking developments of the law alike. In our research proposal we will deal with both aspects
In the first part of our research we will put the Community loyalty principle into both its historical and comparative context. We will provide insights into the role of the Commission and key Member States with respect to landmark decisions of the ECJ.
In a second part, we will submit a novel system of structuring the diverse effects of the loyalty principle. This novel systematisation shall provide the background for discussing selected practical issues on cooperation within the Union and with the Member States in external relations, and on the crucial interplay between the Union and the Member States for ensuring the consistent and uniform application of the law.
In a final part we will reflect on the future role of Article 10 EC in the jurisprudence of the Court and proffer a more consistent manner for its application.