Studiegids

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EU Law

Vak
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Admission to the MA International Relations, track European Union Studies.

Description

This course offers an introduction to European Union (EU) law. We will discuss how law is different from politics, how the rule of law relates to democracy and how the EU legal order is structured. We will cover the substantive law of the internal market (the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital) and some adjacent fields, such as social policy and the environment. We will also reflect on the role of fundamental rights in the EU legal order. We will finish with a look at EU law in action: How is EU law enforced, and how can citizens, interest groups and companies mobilise and claim rights against public authorities?

Course objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, participants can

  • name and interpret fundamental principles of the EU legal order

  • name and interpret basic aspects of the substantive law of the EU (in particular the free movement of people, goods, services and capital)

  • name and interpret basic aspects of the procedural law of the EU (in particular the central and decentral enforcement of EU law)

  • explain the socio-legal context in which EU law has evolved

  • research sources of law and their judicial interpretation

  • solve a legal problem, in cooperation with others

  • advise clients on legal strategy

  • give critical feedback on (socio-)legal analysis produced by peers

Timetable

The timetables are available through MyTimetable.

Mode of instruction

Lectures

Assessment method

Assessment

The achievement of the learning objectives will be assessed in the following way:

  • Students write three short research papers (max 1000 words each) due about every 4 weeks on topics covered in the course

  • Students give feedback on these research papers

  • Students (in groups) write a legal strategy (max 3000 words) on a problem presented by a fictional client

Weighing

The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average of the individual components:

  • First research paper: 0% (formative assessment)

  • Second research paper: 20%

  • Third research paper: 20%

  • Feedback to peers: 20%

  • Group work on legal strategy: 40%

To pass the course, submission of the first research paper is mandatory, and the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.

Resit

Any course participant who did not pass the course is eligible for a resit.

There are two options for the resit:

  • If the first research paper was submitted and the weighted average of the partial grades was at least 5.0, the resit can consist of a substantial revision of the legal strategy

  • In all other cases, the resit consists of a new research paper and (individual) legal strategy (each max 2000 words) .

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

A syllabus will be provided before the start of the course. Reading will largely be based on EU law textbooks that may require a purchase or electronic loan for about 40€.

Registration

Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Huizinga

Remarks

​N.A.