Marios Costa

Dr Marios Costa is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for the Study of European Law (ISEL) within City Law School at City, University of London. Previously, he was a visiting scholar at the Centre for European Legal Studies (CELS) at the University of Cambridge. His academic career focuses on European Union law with particular emphasis on accountability and transparency mechanisms within the EU governance structure, where he has established himself as a recognized scholar through numerous publications and presentations.

Dr Costa received his legal education from the University of Essex, where he earned both his LLM in European Union Law and his PhD. His undergraduate law degree (LL.B) was obtained from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. He maintains professional affiliation as a non-practicing member of the Cyprus Bar Association.

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
• Master of Law (LL.M) (European), University of Essex, United Kingdom
• Ph.D. in Law, University of Essex, United Kingdom

Dr Costa's principal research interests center on accountability and transparency at the EU level of governance. His work critically examines mechanisms ensuring democratic oversight of EU decision-making processes, particularly regarding independent agencies, committees, and expert groups. In his monograph 'The Accountability Gap in EU law' (Routledge 2017), he argues that EU institutions and member states lack adequate frameworks to control actions of various EU bodies operating at arm's length from direct political control.

His research explores how transparency mechanisms, judicial review, and institutional design can bridge accountability gaps in the EU's complex governance structure. He has published extensively on topics including access to documents, the role of the Court of Justice in enhancing transparency, and accountability of EU financial supervisory authorities. His scholarship demonstrates consistent focus on EU accountability mechanisms, with particular emphasis on transparency as a tool for democratic oversight.

Dr Costa's publication record spans monographs, journal articles, and book chapters that critically analyze the relationship between institutional independence and accountability in EU governance. A notable trend in his recent work examines how judicial interpretation affects transparency principles, particularly in non-legislative contexts where the Court of Justice has established presumptions against disclosure. His collaborative work with Professor Steve Peers highlights the interdisciplinary nature of his research, bridging legal analysis with political science perspectives on governance.

Dr Costa maintains active engagement with the academic community through presentations at prominent institutions including the University of Cambridge, University of Essex, and the Dutch House of Representatives. His work addresses fundamental questions about democratic legitimacy in the EU's complex governance structure, making significant contributions to contemporary EU legal scholarship.