Professor Öberg kicked off his talk with a crucial yet tricky question: why is it necessary for the EU to legislate in the field of criminal law since Member States already have domestic criminal justice systems in place? While it is widely agreed that EU action is essential for combatting cross-border crime, it also has considerable implications for EU citizens. There is therefore a strong need for a normative standard guiding the assessment of the legitimacy of EU criminal law. In developing this standard, Professor Öberg explored various justifications rooted in a diverse set of theories. He concluded by highlighting that the EU’s competence in the field of criminal justice is justified in the context of the protection of European public goods and other significant transnational interests. This way, EU criminal law can serve as a means of fostering broader integration objectives.

Professor Öberg’s presentation was followed by reflections offered by Johannes Keiler, who acted as a discussant.

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