Constitution and Courts in Belgium

The Belgian Constitution was one of most liberal ones when it was established, and this remains a key feature even though the court system has much evolved since 1831. Extensive legal scholarship has highlighted the importance of the judiciary to protect individual rights, the complex and pluralistic Belgian organisation of courts, issues with judicial independence and a readiness by the courts to follow European case law to interpret constitutional protections. Recently, political scholarship has started to contribute to this field. Yet further analysis and a more detailed understanding of the dynamics between courts and politics, between national and European courts and between national courts call for a diversification of the research methods used in this area, drawing on interdisciplinary collaboration when relevant.