Normative justifications of EU criminal law: European public goods and transnational interests

• In Event: Social media and crime & EU Policy Evaluation

Abstract

EU policy-making in criminal law is a matter of significant public concern for EU citizens and the Member States. The exercise of EU public powers in the fields of criminal law and law enforcement have tangible and adverse consequences for the liberties and well-being of individuals. Furthermore, EU cooperation in the area of criminal law touches upon core functions of statehood including ‘core state powers’ such as the safeguarding of internal security and law enforcement. This raises several questions regarding the rationale underpinning EU criminal policy and its legitimacy within the context of a multi-level polity. This paper sketches out a normative argument for legitimate justifications for criminalisation in the field of EU law on the basis of the notions of public goods, the harm principle and transnational interests. The article claims that there is a compelling justification for EU criminalisation to protect European public goods and other key transnational interests.

Author

• Jacob Oberg, University of Southern Denmark