Advanced EU Law

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Pieter Van Cleynenbreugel

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course will offer a panoramic perspective of the state of European Union law today. As the EU intervenes in ever more domains, we have to make a selection in doing so. Given their increasing importance, we made the choice in that respect to approach the European Union and its law from the particular point of view of 'fundamental rights'.
The importance of fundamental rights can no longer be denied at the European Union level. Having gained gradual recognition up to a point where an EU Charter of Fundamental Rights has been adopted, fundamental rights have come to play a major role in the design, interpretation and application of European Union law. This course uses the presence, possibilities and limits fundamental rights offer as an inroad into studying European Union law in a somewhat more advanced manner.
The course will comprise a general introduction on the role and status of fundamental rights in the European Union (sessions 1 and 2), before questioning whether a specific hierarchy exists between different types of fundamental rights as recognised throughout the European Union (sessions 3, 4 and 5). The final part of the course zooms in on specific fundamental rights that can be considered typical of the EU: the right to transparency and openness (sessions 6 and 7) and the right to the protection of one's personal data (sessions 8, 9 and 10).

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

By the end of this course, students will have gained a deeper understanding of specific themes in which EU law has played a role or in which it can be invoked.
Students will have a better command of legal English. They will be able to understand the English version of a European Court case or a European legislative instruments. They will be capable of explaining orally in English a point of law within the subject matter of this course. In addition, they will be capable of summarising a key legal argument in writing, through the obligatory forum posts in eCampus. Students will capable of developing arguments based on a problem of EU law and will be able to reflect more critically on the state and future of EU law.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic knowledge of EU institutional and substantive law. Ability and willingness to follow a lecture in English and to take part in discussions.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

10 two-hour lectures will be organised, which will take place during our regular time-slot on Fridays from 10.00 to 12.00.
An optional visit to the Court of Justice in Luxemburg will be organised on Wednesday 13 November. The visit forms part of the course - for organisational purposes, students will be asked to register explicitly for this visit during the first class.
The syllabus for this course will be available in both printed and electronic version. More information will be posted on eCampus.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

This course is taught face-to-face. Ex cathedra lectures will be complemented by more active discussion and Q&A moments, giving students the opportunity to take part more actively in discussions of the course themes.
In addition, students will be required to prepare two written case notes. They will receive at least two individual feedback sessions on those case notes .

Recommended or required readings

Cases and materials as well as course outlines will be available in a printed reader, as well as online via eCampus.
The cases and materials largely contain Court of Justice case law and EU legislation. Links to doctrinal articles will be posted on eCampus.

Assessment methods and criteria

The course is the subject of two evaluation mechanisms.
Firstly, each student will have to prepare two written assignments in the format of case notes. Those case notes will count for 8 out of 20 points of the final grade. An individual feedback moment will be organised, allowing students to improve their writing skills throughout the semester.
Secondly, an oral examination will be organised during the January exam period. Two questions comprising elements of different course themes will be offered to students, who will have half an hour to prepare. The exam will be open book; students can bring their annotated course materials to the prepation for the oral exam.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

10 lecture sessions, one optional visit to the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxemburg and will be organised. I
- The emergence of fundamental rights in the European Union (20/09)
No class on 27/09: public holiday
- Fundamental rights in the European Union and beyond: the relationship between EU fundamental rights and other fundamental rights regimes (4/10)
- Fundamental rights in the EU internal market (I): free movement rights as/and fundamental rights (11/10)
- Fundamental rights in the EU internal market (II): economic freedoms and social rights in balance? (18/10)
- Fundamental rights in the EU internal market (III): Citizenship rights as fundamental rights? (25/10)
Submission of first written assignment (31/10, 11h00 via eCampus and on paper at secretariat)
No class on 1/11: public holiday
- EU-specific fundamental rights: openness and transparency (I) (8/11)
Visit to the Court of Justice in Luxemburg (13/11)
- EU-specific fundamental rights: openness and transparency (II) (15/11)
Feedback on first written assignment (19/11, 20/11 or 22/11)
- EU-specific fundamental rights: data protection (I) (22/11)
- EU-specific fundamental rights: data protection (II) (29/11)
- EU-specific fundamental rights: data protection (III) = Q&A (6/12)
Submission of second written assignment (13/12, 11h00 via eCampus and on paper at secretariat)
Students will be required to pay a modest contribution to the transportation costs from Liège to Luxembourg on the occasion of the visit to the Court.

Contacts

Professor: Pieter Van Cleynenbreugel (pieter.vancleynenbreugel@ulg.ac.be)
Secretariat: Caroline Langevin (caroline.langevin@ulg.ac.be)

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

Not applicable

Assessment subjects

Not applicable

Assessment methods

Not applicable

Contacts

No modifications

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

Not applicable

Assessment methods

  Not applicable

Contacts

No modifications

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