Reflections on the Architecture of the EU after the Treaty of Lisbon: The European Judicial Approach to Fundamental Rights

This paper, based on an overarching project, focuses on the role of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) (also known as the Luxembourg Court) in shaping legal integration in Europe. The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the new legally binding nature of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the future EU's accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) bring significant changes to the fundamental rights discourse within the European Union. These developments allow the enhancement of human rights protection within the EU. Based on empirical data collected through interviews with the Court of Justice's judges and Advocates General and recent case-law, the paper offers original insights into the post-Lisbon era of regional integration and reflects on the impact of the Charter on the CJEU jurisprudence.