The Impact of Pan-European General Principles of Good Administration on the Administrative Law of France

Abstract

Abstract This chapter is dedicated to exploring the impact of the pan-European principles of good administration on French administrative law. The chapter discloses that, despite the involvement of France in the functioning and work of the Council of Europe (CoE), reception of the said principles remains selective in the country. This may be attributed to the fact that French administrative law is a relatively old and deeply rooted system, and numerous laws were already adopted when the CoE started paying attention to certain issues. However, a certain but very indirect influence can be discerned with regard to the codification of individuals’ rights in administrative procedure and the discussion of local self-government. Sometimes the influence of the CoE is perceived as too disruptive for national administrative law. The chapter concludes that it remains mostly for the administrative judge to facilitate the reception of the pan-European principles of good administration.