The European Institute for Public Administration (EIPA) held its annual conference to review developments in European Union Law in Luxembourg on 3-4 December 2015.

University of Oslo on 24-27 November 2015 hosted guest lectures at the institutes for Sea Law and European Union Law.

Peter Gjortler spoke on Democratic Legitimacy and the Court of Justice of the European Union, based on a contribution to a book published by the university in which it is argued that a balance between democratic legitimacy and judicial activism is most clearly demonstrated by the Court in its case law concerning the limits to EU competences.

Judgement of the European Court of Justice – 14 April 2011.
Pace Plc –v– The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs

The case concerned the classification of Set Top Boxes (STB) with HDD recording functionality.  HMRC had classified these products as directed by a CN Explanatory Note issued in May 2008.  Pace’s case was that as the CNEN merely provided guidance but conflicted with the provisions of the CN which is fully binding in law, HMRC should have disregarded the CNEN.