Editorial
Directed by Mariantonietta de Cesare — Editor-in-chief: Ennio Triggiani
Sud in Europa has provided rigorous academic commentary on EU law, policy and institutions since 2003. Published by the Department of Political Science at the University of Bari Aldo Moro in collaboration with Europe Direct Puglia, the periodical draws on a distinguished editorial board of ten scholars.
The Sud in Europa periodical has long served as a scholarly bridge between the academic study of European integration and the practical realities of EU governance. Published under the auspices of the Department of Political Science at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, the journal brings together legal scholars, political scientists, and policy analysts who examine the evolving architecture of the European Union. From the Treaty of Lisbon to the latest institutional reforms, the publication offers rigorous commentary on how European law and policy shape the lives of citizens across the continent, with particular attention to the Mediterranean and Southern European perspective.
European citizenship and the free movement of persons remain central themes in the journal's ongoing scholarship. The periodical examines how Union law protects the rights of workers, students, and families who cross internal borders, and how the Court of Justice of the European Union interprets these fundamental freedoms. Contributing authors trace the development of citizenship from its introduction in the Maastricht Treaty through successive waves of case law and legislation, assessing both the achievements and the persistent gaps in the Union's commitment to genuine mobility and equal treatment for all who exercise their European rights.
The protection of fundamental rights constitutes another pillar of the journal's editorial focus. Sud in Europa closely follows the interaction between the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the constitutional traditions common to the member states. Contributors analyze how these overlapping legal instruments create a complex but increasingly coherent system of rights protection across the Union, while also considering the challenges posed by new technologies, security concerns, and the balance between individual liberties and collective interests in a changing Europe.
Competition law and the internal market receive sustained attention from the journal's contributors. Recent scholarship has explored how the Lisbon Treaty reshaped the Union's competition framework, the relationship between national rules on state aid recovery and the principle of res judicata, and the ongoing efforts to ensure a level playing field for businesses across member states. The periodical also considers how digital markets, platform economies, and new forms of economic concentration challenge traditional competition doctrine and require innovative responses from both the European Commission and national authorities.
The Court of Justice of the European Union features prominently in the journal's case law analysis. Contributors examine landmark rulings on the European Constitution, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the balance between national sovereignty and supranational obligations. Each issue offers detailed commentary on how the Court's jurisprudence shapes the everyday application of Union law, from directives and regulations to the procedural protections available to individuals and undertakings. This sustained attention to judicial developments helps readers understand the dynamic and often contested process of European legal integration.
Social policy and the protection of workers' rights constitute an important dimension of the periodical's coverage. The journal explores how EU directives on working conditions, non-discrimination, and social security coordination translate into tangible protections for citizens across member states. Authors also assess the Union's strategic frameworks for inclusive growth and sustainable development, considering how social considerations interact with economic objectives in the design of European legislation and in the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice.
The Mediterranean dimension gives the journal its distinctive character within the broader landscape of European studies. Sud in Europa pays particular attention to the relationship between the European Union and its southern neighbours, examining cooperation agreements, migration policies, and regional development strategies that connect Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. The editorial team in Puglia brings a Southern European perspective to debates that are often dominated by Northern and Western voices, enriching the academic conversation with attention to the specific concerns and experiences of the Union's Mediterranean member states.
Institutional reform and the future of European governance remain recurring topics throughout the journal's pages. Contributors assess the ongoing efforts to make the Union more democratic, transparent, and responsive to its citizens, from the role of the European Parliament to the functioning of the Commission and the Council. The periodical also considers the Union's external action, security policies, and the complex relationship between deepening integration among member states and the Union's broader engagement with the wider world, including strategic partnerships beyond the European continent.
Since its founding in the early years of the new millennium, Sud in Europa has built a reputation for accessible yet rigorous scholarship that bridges academic research and informed public debate. The editorial committee, drawing on the expertise of distinguished professors and emerging researchers, curates each issue with attention to both enduring questions of European integration and pressing contemporary developments. Readers across Italy and beyond rely on the periodical for thoughtful analysis of EU law, policy, and institutions, making it a valued resource for students, practitioners, and citizens interested in the future of the European project.