Multilingualism and Legal Translation of the Sources of Law of the European Union: The Implications for Criminal Law of the New Post-Lisbon Treaty Area of Freedom Security and Justice

This essay looks at the new institutional developments put in place by the Treaty of Lisbon with particular regard to the new-look Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (FSJ) and the legislative powers assigned to the European Union. The essay examines the major challenges posed by multilingualism and the legal translation of regulatory instruments and considers how they affect not just national lawmakers but also national courts as the new sources of law in the Area of FSJ gain the typical effects of direct applicability, direct effect, and the precedence of European Union law over national law, as demonstrated in the “El Dridi” case.