Pedro’s joint PhD journey began at Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome and later continued at iCourts, the Danish National Research Foundation’s Centre of Excellence for International Courts, at the University of Copenhagen. His research is supervised by Professor Giovanni Piccirilli (Luiss University) and Professor Mikael Madsen (University of Copenhagen).

On September 1st, Pedro joined the IEE-ULB, where he will conduct his research until the end of December under the supervision of Professor Chloé Brière.

Academic Interests

Pedro’s academic interests focus on various aspects of EU law, particularly in areas such as the Law of the Economic and Monetary Union and the Law of the Common Commercial Policy. His primary focus, however, lies in the constitutional dimensions of EU law, including:

  • The jurisprudence of conflict between the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) and domestic high courts.
  • Constitutional pluralism and its implications for the EU legal order.
  • The construction of the EU polity and the fundamental values underpinning the Union.
  • The protection of fundamental rights and their interplay with constitutional principles.

Phd Thesis

Pedro’s PhD thesis investigates the jurisprudence of conflict between the Court of Justice of the European Union and selected national constitutional and supreme courts. His research explores the underlying reasons why domestic high courts sometimes impose limits on the EU legal order, raising critical questions about constitutional and democratic legitimacy.

By addressing these issues, his research engages with key theoretical frameworks, including:

  • Constitutional pluralism and the tension between multiple legal orders.
  • The concept of constituent power and its role in multilevel governance.
  • Theoretical perspectives on federalism and comparative constitutional reasoning.
  • The nature and interpretation of the EU’s fundamental values enshrined in Article 2 TEU.

In essence, his thesis examines the motivations behind the resistance of some national constitutional and supreme courts to the primacy of EU law and offers a broader reflection on the constitutional and democratic legitimacy of legal orders in multilevel systems.

Research at the IEE-ULB

During his research stay at the IEE-ULB, Pedro is delving deeper into how his work intersects with the concept of dissensus, particularly regarding how disagreements over the EU’s fundamental values impact the relationship between high courts in Europe. With the invaluable expertise of researchers at the ULB, Pedro is refining both his doctrinal analysis and his study of the political dynamics that fuel court disputes. Additionally, his time at the IEE-ULB enables him to collaborate closely with PhD colleagues and researchers contributing to the GEM-DIAMOND project, further advancing the programme’s shared deliverables.

How to become a visiting researcher at the IEE-ULB

The IEE-ULB regularly welcomes visiting researchers whose work focuses on its main lines of research.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications which must contain: an up-to-date CV, a research project highlighting the link to one or several of the IEE’s four research themes, the proposed research period, and the name of the IEE-affiliated professor who has agreed to act as the researcher’s supervisor.

Applications should be send to Prof. François Foret, Dominique Dembour, and Dr. Marta Matrakova.

Decisions on visiting research applications are taken by the Council of the IEE, which gathers five times per year. Next dates are:

  • 16 December 2024 and 12 March 2025.

Contact

For any questions about a visiting research stay at the IEE, please contact the IEE’s Research Manager, Dr. Marta Matrakova.