Draft:Graham Butler

Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest policy, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. 194.47.102.29 (talk) 10:19, 29 August 2025 (UTC)

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Professor Graham Butler B.A., LL.M., Ph.D.
Citizenship	EU
Occupation(s)	Professor Legal scholar
Known for	EU law
Title	Full Professor of Law
Academic background
Education	University College Dublin, National University of Ireland (LL.M.) University of Iceland (Joint Ph.D.) University of Copenhagen (Joint Ph.D.)
Academic work
Discipline	EU law, Public law
Sub-discipline	EU constitutional law EU internal market law EU external relations law
Institutions	Linnaeus University, Sweden University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

Graham Butler, is a legal scholar, specialising in European Union law, who is a Full Professor of Law at Linnaeus University, Sweden.

Background and education

Butler earned his LL.M. degree from University College Dublin, National University of Ireland. He completed his joint Ph.D./doctorate in Law at the University of Iceland and the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen in 2016.^[1]

Career

Butler began his academic career as a Fellow at the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (2013–2016). He later joined Aarhus University, Denmark, as an Assistant Professor (2017–2018) and subsequently as an Associate Professor (2018–2023). In 2023, he was appointed Full Professor of Law at the University of Southern Denmark, and in 2025, he assumed a Full Professorship at Linnaeus University in Sweden.

Academic work

His research and writing focus on the law of the European Union, with particular emphasis on constitutional law, free movement/internal market law, and EU external relations law.

His scholarship has appeared in leading law reviews/journals such as the Common Market Law Review, European Law Review, European Constitutional Law Review, and the European Law Journal, as well as in many anthologies published by Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury.

Butler serves on the editorial board of a number of journals, including the Nordic Journal of European Law,^[2] and European Papers.^[3] and has delivered lectures and seminars at numerous universities and international organisations across Europe.^[4] He has also given evidence to parliamentary committees on issues of European law,^[5] including the House of Lords.^[6]

He is among the most frequently cited law professors as a legal authority by Advocates General at the Court of Justice of the European Union in their judicial opinions.^[7]

Personal life

Butler lives in Sweden with his family.

Publications

Books (select)

• Butler, Graham, ed. (2025). Research Handbook on EEA Internal Market Law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi:10.4337/9781803922461. ISBN 978-1803922454.
• Butler, Graham; Wessel, Ramses A., eds. (2022). EU External Relations Law: The Cases in Context. Oxford: Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury Publishing. doi:10.5040/9781509939725. ISBN 978-1509939695.
• Butler, Graham; Łazowski, Adam, eds. (2022). Shaping EU Law the British Way: UK Advocates General at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Oxford: Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury Publishing. doi:10.5040/9781509950034. ISBN 978-1509950003.
• Butler, Graham (2019). Constitutional Law of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy: Competence and Institutions in External Relations. Oxford: Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury Publishing. doi:10.5040/9781509925971. ISBN 978-1509925940.

Articles (select)

• Butler, Graham (2025). "Deposit return schemes of EU Member States and the EU's internal market". Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law. 34 (1): 101–108. Bibcode:2025RECIE..34..101B. doi:10.1111/reel.12591.
• Butler, Graham (2024). "Solidarity on trial: On reliance, reason and logic at the Court of Justice of the European Union". Maastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law. 31 (6): 772–787. doi:10.1177/1023263X251314445.
• Cotter, John; Butler, Graham (2024). "The President of the European Commission and the Power to Request a Commissioner's Resignation". Common Market Law Review. 61 (3): 593–622. doi:10.54648/cola2024044.
• Butler, Graham (2023). "Of Rulers, Relatives, and Businesspersons: The Imposition of Sanctions on Family Members". Legal Issues of Economic Integration. 50 (4): 367–390. doi:10.54648/leie2023024.
• Butler, Graham (2023). "Sweden and the Free Movement of Alcoholic Goods in the EU Internal Market". European Public Law. 29 (1): 75–114. doi:10.54648/euro2023005.
• Kochenov, Dimitry; Butler, Graham (2021). "Independence of the Court of Justice of the European Union: Unchecked Member States' power after the Sharpston Affair". European Law Journal. 27 (1–3): 262–296. doi:10.1111/eulj.12434.
• Butler, Graham (2021). "Lower Instance National Courts and Tribunals in Member States and Their Judicial Dialogue with the Court of Justice of the European Union". Nordic Journal of European Law. 4 (2): 19–36. doi:10.36969/njel.v4i2.23779.
• Butler, Graham (2021). "The EU's Contractual Relations and the Arbitration Clause: Disputes at the Court of Justice of the European Union". European Law Review. 46 (3): 345–363.
• Butler, Graham (2021). "State Monopolies and the Free Movement of Goods in EU Law: Getting Beyond Obscure Clarity". Legal Issues of Economic Integration. 48 (3): 285–308. doi:10.54648/leie2021020.
• Butler, Graham (2021). "Private Pensions and EU Internal Market Law: Enhancing Retirement Provision through Harmonisation". European Business Law Review. 32 (5): 853–876. doi:10.54648/eulr2021030.
• Butler, Graham (2020). "Mind the (Homogeneity) Gap: Independence of Referring Bodies Requesting Advisory Opinions from the EFTA Court". Fordham International Law Journal. 44 (2): 307–352.
• Butler, Graham (2020). "Independence of non-judicial bodies and orders for a preliminary reference to the Court of Justice". European Law Review. 45 (6): 870–887.
• Butler, Graham (2020). "An Interim Post-mortem: Specialised Courts in the EU Judicial Architecture after the Civil Service Tribunal". International Organizations Law Review. 17 (3): 586–632. doi:10.1163/15723747-2019010.
• Butler, Graham (2018). "In Search of the Political Question Doctrine in EU Law". Legal Issues of Economic Integration. 45 (4): 329–354. doi:10.54648/leie2018020.
• Butler, Graham (2018). "Implementing a Complete System of Legal Remedies in EU Foreign Affairs Law". Columbia Journal of European Law. 24 (3): 637–676.
• Butler, Graham (2017). "The Court of Justice as an inter-state court". Yearbook of European Law. 36 (1): 179–208. doi:10.1093/yel/yex014.
• Butler, Graham (2017). "The Coming of Age of the Court's Jurisdiction in the Common Foreign and Security Policy". European Constitutional Law Review. 13 (4): 673–703. doi:10.1017/S1574019617000268.

Book chapters (select)

• Butler, Graham (2025). "The High Representative as a New Actor before the Court of Justice of the European Union". In Hoffmeister, Frank; Havas, Lóránt (eds.). The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as a Legal Actor. Studies in EU External Relations. Leiden: Brill Nijhoff. pp. 41–63. doi:10.1163/9789004700635_004. ISBN 978-90-04-70062-8.
• Butler, Graham (2025). "The EEA Agreement: on 30 years of an extended internal market". In Butler, Graham (ed.). Research Handbook on EEA Internal Market Law. Research Handbooks in European Law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. pp. 2–9. doi:10.4337/9781803922461. ISBN 978-1-80392-245-4.
• Butler, Graham (2025). "Screening of Foreign Direct Investment in EU Law: Frameworks, Non‑EU Investors, and Security Considerations". In Groussot, Xavier; Öberg, Marja‑Liisa; Butler, Graham (eds.). The EU Law of Investment: Past, Present, and Future. Swedish Studies in European Law. Oxford: Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury. pp. 31–50. ISBN 978-1-50996-585-4.
• Butler, Graham (2024). "Fisheries: The Cod's Pollocks or a Damp Squid". In Fabbrini, Federico (ed.). The Law and Politics of Brexit: Volume V: The EU‑UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 167–181. doi:10.1093/oso/9780198908289.003.0009. ISBN 978-0-19-890828-9.
• Butler, Graham (2024). "An Advocate before Advocate General: Eleanor Sharpston at the European Courts". In Barnard, Catherine; Łazowski, Adam; Sarmiento, Daniel (eds.). Pursuit of Legal Harmony in a Turbulent Europe: Essays in Honour of Eleanor Sharpston. Oxford: Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury. pp. 11–28. doi:10.5040/9781509977031.ch-003. ISBN 978-1-509-97700-0.
• Butler, Graham (2024). "Reform of the Judicial Architecture of the EFTA Pillar of the EEA". In Hreinsson, Páll; Einarsson, Ólafur Jóhannes; Pálmarsdóttir, Bryndís (eds.). The EFTA Court: Developing the EEA over Three Decades. Oxford: Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury. pp. 75–94. doi:10.5040/9781509968831.ch-006. ISBN 978-1-509-96880-0.
• Butler, Graham (2023). "Public and private enforcement possibilities within the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy". In Scholten, Miroslava (ed.). Research Handbook on the Enforcement of EU Law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. pp. 199–214. doi:10.4337/9781802208030.00023. ISBN 978-1-80220-802-3.
• Butler, Graham (2023). "Free Movement of Persons in the Nordic States through EU Law and EEA Law". In Hyltén‑Cavallius, Katarina; Paju, Jaan (eds.). Free Movement of Persons in the Nordic States: EU Law, EEA Law, and Regional Cooperation. Oxford: Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury. pp. 31–54. doi:10.5040/9781509951871.ch-003. ISBN 978-1-5099-5184-0.
• Butler, Graham (2023). "Tribunals in the Nordic States and Referrals to the European Courts". In Reichel, Jane; Zamboni, Mauro (eds.). Scandinavian Studies in Law: Volume 69 – Rule of Law. Stockholm: Jure. pp. 145–176. doi:10.53292/32f26f7c.398102c0. ISBN 978-91-85142-82-8. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
• Butler, Graham (2022). "Free Movement of Goods and the Public Security Exception: Opinion of Advocate General Slynn in Campus Oil". In Butler, Graham; Łazowski, Adam (eds.). Shaping EU Law the British Way: UK Advocates General at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Oxford: Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury. pp. 187–198. doi:10.5040/9781509950034.ch-017. ISBN 978-1-5099-5000-3.
• Butler, Graham; Łazowski, Adam (2022). "Let's Take the Canvass Out: Advocates General at the Court of Justice of the European Union". In Butler, Graham; Łazowski, Adam (eds.). Shaping EU Law the British Way: UK Advocates General at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Oxford: Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury. pp. 7–18. doi:10.5040/9781509950034.ch-001. ISBN 978-1-5099-5000-3.
• Butler, Graham; Sørensen, Karsten Engsig (2022). "The Prohibition of Abuse of EU Law: A Special General Principle". In Ziegler, Katja S.; Neuvonen, Päivi J.; Moreno‑Lax, Violeta (eds.). Research Handbook on General Principles in EU Law: Constructing Legal Orders in Europe. Research Handbooks in European Law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. pp. 402–422. doi:10.4337/9781784712389.00033. ISBN 978-1-78471-237-2.
• Butler, Graham (2022). "The EU Customs Union, International Agreements of EU Member States, and the Doctrine of Substitution: Nederlandse Spoorwegen". In Butler, Graham; Wessel, Ramses A. (eds.). EU External Relations Law: The Cases in Context. Oxford: Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury. pp. 57–66. doi:10.5040/9781509939725.ch-005. ISBN 978-1-50993-969-5.
• Butler, Graham (2022). "Hidden Administrative Review in EU Law: The BoAs of EU Agencies in the Common Foreign and Security Policy". In Chamon, Merijn; Volpato, Annalisa; Eliantonio, Mariolina (eds.). Boards of Appeal of EU Agencies: Towards Judicialization of Administrative Review?. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 122–150. doi:10.1093/oso/9780192849298.003.0007. ISBN 978-0-19-284929-8.
• Butler, Graham (2021). "The European Rule of Law Standard, the Nordic States, and EU Law". In Bakardjieva Engelbrekt, Antonina; Moberg, Andreas; Nergelius, Joakim (eds.). Rule of Law in the EU: 30 Years After the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Oxford: Hart Publishing/Bloomsbury. pp. 243–264. doi:10.5040/9781509941629.ch-011. ISBN 978-1-50994-159-9.
• Butler, Graham (2019). "The EU Flexibility Clause is Dead, Long Live the EU Flexibility Clause". In Bakardjieva Engelbrekt, Antonina; Groussot, Xavier (eds.). The Future of Europe: Political and Legal Integration Beyond Brexit. Swedish Studies in European Law. Oxford: Hart Publishing. pp. 63–95. doi:10.5040/9781509923335.ch-003. ISBN 978-1-50992-330-4.
• Butler, Graham (2018). "Pre‑Ratification Judicial Review of International Agreements to be Concluded by the European Union". In Derlén, Mattias; Lindholm, Johan (eds.). The Court of Justice of the European Union: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Swedish Studies in European Law. Oxford: Hart Publishing. pp. 53–77. doi:10.5040/9781509919116.ch-004. ISBN 978-1-50991-908-6.
• Butler, Graham (2017). "The European Union and Diplomatic Law: An Emerging Actor in Twenty‑First Century Diplomacy". In Behrens, Paul (ed.). Diplomatic Law in a New Millennium. Vol. 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 319–340. doi:10.1093/oso/9780198795940.003.0018. ISBN 978-0-19-879594-0.

References

1. PhD defence: Graham Butler – University Post (University of Copenhagen)
2. Nordic Journal of European Law – Editorial Team
3. European Papers – Management Board
4. Graham Butler – Linnaeus University Staff Profile
5. Goods from occupied territories could still come into Ireland via another EU country, TDs and Senators told – The Irish Times (10 July 2025)
6. Lords inquiry into UK-EU reset hears from legal experts – UK Parliament (House of Lords Media Notice), January 2025
7. Examples of Opinions at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), in a variety of cases (references for a preliminary ruling, actions for annulment, and infringement proceedings) citing Butler’s authored and edited works include:
   • Opinion of Advocate General Maciej Szpunar in Mutuelle assurance des travailleurs mutualistes (Matmut) v TN and Others, Case C‑236/23, ECLI:EU:C:2024:560;
   • Opinion of Advocate General Tamara Ćapeta in KS and KD v Council and Others, Joined Cases C‑29/22 P and C‑44/22 P, ECLI:EU:C:2023:901;
   • Opinion of Advocate General Nicholas Emiliou in Commission v United Kingdom (Judgment of the UK Supreme Court), Case C‑516/22, ECLI:EU:C:2023:857;
   • Opinion of Advocate General Jean Richard de la Tour in Jenkinson v Council and Others, Case C‑46/22 P, ECLI:EU:C:2023:419;
   • Opinion of Advocate General Priit Pikamäe in Czech Republic v Poland (Turów Mine), Case C‑121/21, ECLI:EU:C:2022:74;
   • Opinion of Advocate General Evgeni Tanchev in CO and Others v MJ and Others, Case C‑283/20, ECLI:EU:C:2021:781;
   • Opinion of Advocate General Gerard Hogan in Bank Refah Kargaran v Council, Case C‑134/19 P, ECLI:EU:C:2020:396;
   • Opinion of Advocate General Evgeni Tanchev in SC v Eulex Kosovo, Case C‑730/18 P, ECLI:EU:C:2020:176;
   • Opinion of Advocate General Michal Bobek in Puppinck and Others v Commission, Case C‑418/18 P, ECLI:EU:C:2019:640;
   • Opinion of Advocate General Eleanor Sharpston in Tsegezab Mengesteab v Germany, Case C‑670/16, ECLI:EU:C:2017:480.

External links

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Categories:

• Living people
• Irish legal scholars
• Writers from Dublin (city)
• Alumni of University College Dublin
• European Union law scholars

References