S. Prechal

Implementation of EU Enforcement Provisions: Between European Control and National Practice

For effective enforcement of its law the EU is to a large extent dependent on the enforcement efforts of the member states. The member states are responsible for the correct and timely application of EU treaties and secondary EU legislation. This dependence is an important reason for the European legislator and European courts to increasingly guide national enforcement. Interesting questions result from this guidance. What exactly is the relationship between EU legislation in the area of law enforcement and national policy and legislation in this respect? How is that legislation implemented, and can patterns be recognized in this? What problems are the national legislator and the national enforcement practice and organisation faced with in this respect? These questions have been dealt with in respect to the Netherlands in a research project carried out in 2006 and 2007 by researchers of Leiden University and Utrecht University. The project was commissioned by the Dutch Justice Ministry’s Research and Documentation Centre. This article presents the main results of this research into the implementation of EU enforcement provisions in the Netherlands.

The Implementation of the Services Directive in the Netherlands

Dr. Alexandra (Sacha) Prechal—Professor of European Law at the Europe Institute of the School of Law at Utrecht University, since 10 June 2010 she is Judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Dr. S.A. (Sybe) de Vries—Associate Professor in European Law at the Europe Institute of the School of Law at Utrecht University. Frederik van Doorn, MSc, LL.M.—Policy adviser at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. Every opinion expressed in this research is strictly personal. The authors would like to thank Sophie Hiensch and Maartje Mohring for their valuable research assistance. Latest update April 2010.