This work investigates the complex legal tension between the protection of fundamental rights and the exercise of economic freedoms within the European Union legal order. Niall O'Connor, an expert in European jurisprudence, examines how the Court of Justice of the European Union balances these competing interests. The book provides a rigorous analysis of case law to determine how market-oriented freedoms are constrained by, or integrated with, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Legal scholars and practitioners frequently cite this text for its precise mapping of the intersection between economic and human rights law. The prose is noted for its high academic density and is considered a standard reference for those navigating the complexities of EU constitutional litigation.