Jean Monnet Chair in the European Court of Justice (2024–27)

Overview

The Jean Monnet Chair in the European Court of Justice at Trinity College Dublin is held by Professor William Phelan. The Chair supports research, teaching, and public engagement on European Union law and politics, with a particular focus on the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Research

The Chair supports original research on:

• The lives and careers of current and former ECJ judges
• The institutional and political development of the Court
• Biographical research on Robert Lecourt, French judge and later President of the ECJ (1962–1976)

Recent publication:

Phelan, William (2024 [Firstview]). Europe’s Legal Revolution and France’s Article 49-3: The Constitutional Audacity of Robert Lecourt. European Law Open.

Teaching

The Jean Monnet Chair contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in EU Studies, including modules on:

• The politics of the European Court of Justice
• The external relations of the European Union
• Comparative perspectives on international courts

Events & Networks

The Chair supports workshops, seminars, and scholarly networks, including:

• The Dublin EU Law Working Group
• The EU Legal Historians Network

Recent meetings include:

• Sutherland School of Law, UCD: 28 November 2024 (EU Law Working Group)
• Online: 15 January 2025 (EU Legal Historians Network)

Those interested in participating may contact: phelanw@tcd.ie

Contact

Professor William Phelan, Department of Political Science, Trinity College Dublin
Email: phelanw@tcd.ie

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Previous Jean Monnet Centres

Before the current Jean Monnet Chair, the Department hosted two major EU-focused initiatives- the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence (2020–2024) and the Jean Monnet Chair in EU Politics and Law (2017–2021). Although these centres have now concluded, their teaching, events, and research activities continue to inform ongoing work in European Studies at Trinity. Full details of their programmes, outputs, and archived activities can be found below.