There are many people and institutions I need to acknowledge at the end of the arduous but rewarding journey that has led to this book.
The foremost mention must go to my supervisor and mentor, Dr Luis N. González Alonso, as this work is based on my PhD and, therefore, exists thanks to his inspiration, direction, and intellectual generosity. My second debt is with Advocate General Manuel Campos and his cabinet at the Court of Justice, with a special mention to Dr Manuel López Escudero. From my traineeship I learnt invaluable lessons about the law in practice but, just as significantly, I experienced the unconditional kindness of those who strive to improve the world by passing on their knowledge. In the same vein, I am grateful to Dr Rosa María Lastra for receiving me as a visiting scholar at Queen Mary University of London and to Dr Ramses A. Wessel and his team for their warm welcome to the University of Groningen. Thank you also, of course, to my colleagues from the Department of Public International Law at the University of Salamanca, among whom I am particularly grateful to Dr Daniel González Herrera for all of his help but especially for his friendship. As far as institutions are concerned, thank you to the ‘Junta de Castilla y León’ for funding my four years as a doctoral student and to the University of Salamanca for my postdoctoral research grant ‘Margarita Salas.’ For valuing my work, a special mention must also go to the Yuste Foundation for a Charles v European Award Grant, to the British-Spanish Society (and Cuatrecasas, my sponsor) for awarding me a bss Scholarship, and to Re:constitution, co-managed by the Forum Transregionale Studien and Democracy Reporting International, for further funding granted through Stiftung Mercator. Finally, nothing is possible without family. Thank you to Albert, Susie and Ali, for showing me what it can mean to have one. Thank you to my aunty Rosy, for helping me to follow in her footsteps. Thank you to Mum and Dad, for believing in me. Thank you to my Spanish friends and family, for taking care of me. And, last but not least, thank you to Pablo, little Max and baby Elvira, for everything.