Admission requirements
Admission to the Master (specialisation European law).
Description
This course will focus on the main body of rules governing the internal market. An area without internal frontiers within which the Member States must ensure the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital. The internal market comprises the backbone of the European integration project. In the first part of the course the four fundamental freedoms will be introduced. The “fifth freedom”, EU Citizenship, will additionally be studied as an example of how EU integration has moved beyond pure economic cooperation. In addition, this course offers a platform in which students reflect critically on the role of fundamental rights in EU internal market legislation as well as on the concepts of market access and discrimination in internal market legislation.
Whilst the internal market freedoms mainly address the behaviour of Member States, a fully developed internal market cannot function in the absence of additional rules ensuring free and fair competition between private actors on that market. The second part of the course therefore provides an overview of the EU competition rules. Those rules address anti-competitive practices by private actors, such as cartel agreements or abuses of a dominant economic position, but also the rules on state intervention in the market. In addition, this course will offer students a detailed overview on the role of the CJEU in each competition law branch and the roles of EU and national competition authorities; the role of economic and policy analysis in EU competition law as well as an overview on the different aims of competition policy. Students will also distinguish the particular position of Services of General Economic Interest within EU competition law.
Course objectives
Objectives of the course
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the EU free movement and competition law rules. Students will learn how to identify, apply and distinguish those rules at an academic and practical level.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course the student is able to:
Define in a comprehensive manner the content of rules in the area of EU internal market and competition law;
Identify restrictions to EU internal market and competition law rules;
Solve complex practical case studies in the area of the EU internal market and competition law;
Recognize trends in the case law of the Court of Justice of the EU on EU internal market and competition law;
Contrast the impact of different factors behind market integration and explain how they interrelate.
Achievement levels
The following achievement levels apply with regard to the course:
Carry out research in the areas of EU law covered
Solve practical cases in the areas of EU law covered
Reflect critically on the European integration process
Timetable
The timetable of this course can be found in uSis.
Mode of instruction
Lectures
Number of (2 hour) lectures: 10
Required preparation by students: students are required to read the compulsory literature and case law.
Seminars
Number of (2 hour) seminars: 10
Names of instructors: to be announced
Required preparation by students: students are required to read the compulsory literature and case law and prepare written answers to exercises
Assessment method
Examination form(s)
Compulsory written assignment (25%)
Written exam (75%)
The grade obtained in the written assignment will remain valid for the period of one academic year.
Students who fail the exam are entitled to sit a re-examination. Depending on the number of students failing the exam, the re-sit may take the form of an oral exam. In this case, students will be informed 10 days before the date scheduled for the oral exam. If a student has not passed the course by the end of the academic year, partial grades for written exam or written assignment are no longer valid.
Submission procedures
The written assignment will have to be submitted through Brightspace.
Areas to be tested within the exam
The examination syllabus consists of the required reading (literature) and case law for the course, as well as all subjects discussed during the lectures and tutorials.
Regulation retake passed exams
In this course it is possible to retake an exam that has been passed (cf. art. 4.1.8.1 and further of the Course and Examination Regulations), on the condition that this course is included in the compulsory components of the degree program. Students who have passed the exam may retake the final written assessment (test) of the course if they meet certain requirements. To retake a passed exam, students need to ask the Student Administration Office (OIC) for permission. For more information, go to 'course and exam enrollment' > 'permission for retaking a passed exam' on the student website.
Reading list
Obligatory course materials
Literature:
Students are free to use any textbook on EU internal market freedoms and EU competition law they wish.
We recommend the latest editions of the following texts:
For EU internal market:
P. Craig & G. De Búrca, EU Law, Text, Cases and Materials (Oxford University Press, latest edition)
Or D. Chalmers, G. Davies and G. Monti, European Union Law (Cambridge University Press, latest edition)
Or C. Barnard, The Substantive law of the EU – The Four Freedoms (Oxford, Oxford University Press, latest edition) Note: this book does not include EU competition law.
For EU Competition Law:
R. Wish and D. Bailey, Competition Law (Oxford, Oxford University Press, latest edition) (Note: these books do not include the internal market freedoms)
Or A. Jones and B. Sufrin, EU Competition Law. Text, Cases and Materials (Oxford, Oxford University Press, latest edition)
The list with mandatory and recommended reading from these texts, case law and other materials will be made available on Brightspace.
Recommended course materials
Will be made available on Brightspace.
Registration
Students have to register for the lectures and working groups through uSis. With this registration you have access to the digital learning environment of this course in Brightspace. You may register up to 5 calendar days before the first teaching session begins.
Students have to register for exams and retakes through uSis. With this registration you also have access to the digital learning environment of this course in Brightspace You may register up to 10 calendar days before the exam or retake.
Contact information
Coordinator: Dr. D. Piqani
Work address: Room C1.19 KOG
Contact information: via secretariat, see below
Telephone number: +31 (0)71 527 8503
Email: d.piqani@law.leidenuniv.nl
Institution/division
Institute: Public Law
Department: European law
Room number secretary: B1.11 KOG
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9-17h
Telephone number secretary: +31 (0)71 527 7416
Remarks
None.