European Union Law
Code: 102263 ECTS Credits: 9| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500786 Law | OB | 2 | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Montserrat Pi Llorens
- Email:
- montserrat.pi@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject. Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2023.
Teachers
- Susana Beltran Garcia
- Lluís Cases Pallarés
- Carlos Padrós Reig
- Joaquim Hernandez Tornil
- Lidia Ballesta Marti
- Cristina Blasi Casagran
Prerequisites
In order to follow the European Union Law course adequately, a good knowledge of the basis of Public International Law is required.
The classes will be taught in the following languages:
Group 1: Catalan (lectures and seminars) Pof. Carles Padrós, Lluís Cases y Joaquin Hernández Tornil.
Group 2: Spanish (lectures and seminars) Prof. Cristina Blasi, Susana Beltrán.
Group 51: Catalan (lectures and seminars) Prof. Montserrat Pi, Susana Beltrán and Cristina Blasi.
Group 70: Catalan (lectures and seminars). Prof. Lídia Ballesta.
Objectives and Contextualisation
- Knowing the process of evolution of the EU, identifying the methodology and the philosophy that inspires it.
- Describing and analyzing the core elements of the EU from a legal perspective, in order to understand its nature.
- Knowing the values of the EU, its objectives and its main policies.
- Understanding the meaning of the conditions and mechanisms to be followed to become members of the EU.
- Knowing the basic institutional architecture of the EU and the decision-making mechanisms.
- Understanding the system of sources of EU law.
- Understanding the consequences of the principles of primacy and direct effect of EU law.
- Understanding the mechanisms of legislative and administrative application of EU law in Spain, both in its central and the autonomous regime.
- Understanding the judicial control system and the primary role of the internal judge in the application of EU law.
Competences
- Arguing and laying the foundation for the implementation of legal standards.
- Demonstrating a sensible and critical reasoning: analysis, synthesis, conclusions.
- Identifying and solving problems.
- Identifying the underlying conflicts of interest in disputes and real cases.
- Identifying, assessing and putting into practice changes in jurisprudence.
- Identifying, knowing and applying the basic and general principles of the legal system.
- Managing bibliographic and documentary resources: databases, browsing, etc.
- Present information in a way that is appropriate to the type of audience.
- Searching, interpreting and applying legal standards, arguing every case.
- Students must be capable of demonstrating the unitary nature of the legal system and of the necessary interdisciplinary view of legal problems.
- Students must be capable of learning autonomously and having an entrepreneurial spirit.
- Using the main constitutional principles and values as a working tool in the interpretation of the legal system.
- Working in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary fields.
Learning Outcomes
- Applying an interdisciplinary and integrated vision of the legal problems in an international environment.
- Assessing the underlying conflicts of interest in the legal problems proposed in an international environment.
- Building a legal reasoning or discourse in the field of Public International Law, Private International Law and European Union Law.
- Demonstrating a sensible and critical reasoning: analysis, synthesis, conclusions.
- Identifying and assessing the changes and evolution of jurisprudence in a context of plurality of systems.
- Identifying and knowing the basic contents of every stipulated speciality.
- Identifying and solving problems.
- Managing bibliographic and documentary resources: databases, browsing, etc.
- Present information in a way that is appropriate to the type of audience.
- Seek out, interpret and apply legal provisions related to Public Internacional law, Private International Law and European Union Law.
- Students must be capable of learning autonomously and having an entrepreneurial spirit.
- Using the constitutional values as a criterion for interpretation and solution of conflicts, specially in case of a contradiction between the main fundamental principles of several legal systems.
- Working in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary fields.
Content
I. INTRODUCTION
SECTION 1: CREATION AND EVOLUTION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Background. The Schuman Plan and the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The Treaties establishing the EEC and the EAEC and its amendments. The Single European Act. The Treaty on European Union. The Treaty of Amsterdam. The Treaty of Nice. The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. The Treaty of Lisbon. The enlargement of the members. The withdrawal.
SECTION 2: THE EUROPEAN UNION: JURIDICAL NATURE AND REGULATION IN FORCE
The Treaty on European Union. The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The legal personality of the Union.
SECTION 3: OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
The values of the Union. The objectives of the Union. The main policies. The fundamental principles: (a) the principle of democracy and respect for human rights, (b) respect for the national identity of the Member States, (c) the principle of solidarity. Flexibility: mechanisms and legal framework.
II. INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
SECTION 4: INTRODUCTION TO THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
The institutional structure. The principle of institutional balance. The principle of transparency. Headquarters, staff and language regime. Privileges and immunities.
SECTION 5:THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL
Composition andfunctioning. The presidency. Functions.
SECTION 6: THE COUNCIL
Composition, internal organization and functioning. Special reference to COREPER. Competences. Relations with the European Council.
SECTION 7:THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Composition, internal organization and principles. Competences: a) initiative, b) control, c) normative role: execution and delegation.
SECTION 8: THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Composition, internal organization and functioning. Competences: a) political control, b) legislative, c) budgetary, d) in external action.
SECTION 9: THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK
The European Central Bank and the European System of Central Banks. Composition, internal organization and functioning. Competences.
SECTION 10: THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE EUROPEAN COURT OF AUDITORS
The Court of Justice: (a) composition and internal organization, (b) jurisdiction. II. The General Court: (a) organization, (b) jurisdiction and its relationship with the Court of Justice. III. The European Court of Auditors: (a) composition, (b) internal organization and functioning, (c) competences.
SECTION 11. EUROPEAN UNION BODIES
European Economic and Social Committee. European Committee of the Regions. EU Administration by Agencies
III. EUROPEAN UNION LEGAL SYSTEM
SECTION 12. EUROPEAN UNION COMPETENCES
Basis of the EU competences: principle of conferral. Legal Basis. Types of competences. Principles governing the exercise of competences: Principle of subsidiarity, principle of proportionality.
SECTION 13. EUROPEAN UNION'S DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
Ordinary legislative procedure. Special legislative procedures. Specific procedures: A) budgetary procedure, B) procedure for the conclusion of international agreements.
SECTION 14. INTRODUCTION OF THE SOURCES OF EUROPEAN LAW. PRIMARY LAW
Introduction to the sources of EU law. General Principles of Law. Primary Law: definition, content, features and functions. Scope of application; territorial, personal and temporal. Interpretation rules. Revision of the Treaties. Accession and withdrawal.
SECTION 15. SECONDARY LAW
Definition. Features. Binding acts: a) regulations, b) directives,c) decisions. Non-binding acts: recommendations and opinions. Differences between Legislative, Delegated and Implementing acts.
SECTION 16. PRINCIPLES GUIDING THE RELATIONS BETWEEN EUROPEAN LAW AND NATIONAL LAW
Direct applicability. The principle of direct effect of the EU law. The precedence principle: matter of the Fundamental Rights. Principle of Member State liability for breach of European law.
SECTION 17. LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN LAW
Implementation of the EU law by the EU Institutions and bodies. Implementation of EU laws by national authorities of the member States. Implementation in geographically compex States: the Spanish case.
IV. JUDICIAL GUARANTEE OF THE EUROPEAN LAW
SECTION 18. JUDICIAL CONTROL
Functions of the National Courts jurisdiction and European Court jurisdiction. Character of the judicial control of the European Court of Justice and classification criteria. Features of the different proceedings. Proceedings before the Court of Justice and the General Court. Action for annulment. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations.
SECTION 19. PRELIMINARY RULINGS
Nature of references for a preliminary ruling. Features. Procedure. Effects
SECTION 20. NATIONAL COURTS AND EUROPEAN UNION LAW
Right to judicial protection and principle of procedural autonomy. Non-application of national rules which are contrary to European law and the interim protection provided by the national courts.
Methodology
STATEMENT 1: Teaching and assessment methods may change for Degree on Bussiness and Administration+ Law
STATEMENT 2: Attendance at seminars is mandatory.
Teaching methodology is based on the following activities:
1. Professor-directed activities:
1.1 Lectures: the aim of these lessons is that students assimilate the theoretical basis of the subject.
1.2. Seminars: lessons where the students have an active and leading rol in the learning process.
2. Supervised activities: Tutoring and supervised work in the classroom.
3. Students autonomous activities: study, readings, assignements.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Seminars | 19.5 | 0.78 | 1, 3, 8, 2 |
| lectures | 39 | 1.56 | 6 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutorials and work in the classroom | 18 | 0.72 | |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Assessment | 5 | 0.2 | 3, 4, 6 |
| Self Study, readings, assignments, research | 141.5 | 5.66 | 3, 4, 6 |
Assessment
The assessment will be based on a final exam (50%), four activites (40%) and attendance and participation in class (10%).
The final assessment is the result of the arithmetic average calculation of all graded activities. A minimum of 3 out of 10 is required at the final exam.
At the beginning of the course, the professor in charge of each group will inform about the activities and their schedule.
Only those students who don’t pass the assessment of the subject as a whole, having obtained a mark of at least 3 out of 10, will be eligible for the reassessment exam.
The reassessment will be based on an exam (100% of the grade).
A student who cheats or try to cheat an exam will have a 0 as a mark. A Student who submits a paper o practical in which there is evidence of plagiarism or has been fully developed by AI tools will have a 0 as a mark and will receive a warning. In case of repetition, the students will fail the subject.
The single assessment (only in cases a student has previously requested it and has been duly approved) will consist of three tests: 1) a written test of knowledge of the contents of the course (50% of the final mark), 2) an oral test in which the knowledge, oral skills and critical thinking will be examined (25% of the final mark), and 3) a case study, where the ability to apply the theoretical contents of the course to a factual situation will be examined (25% of the final mark). If students do not achieve a 5 by taking the arithmetic average of the three tests, they could opt for re-evaluation, as long as they reach a minimum of 3 out of 10. The second-call will consist of a single exam (100% of the grade).
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activity 1 | 10% | 0 | 0 | 1, 10, 3, 4, 8, 6, 5, 9, 7, 11, 13, 12, 2 |
| Activity 2 | 10% | 0 | 0 | 1, 10, 3, 4, 8, 6, 5, 9, 7, 11, 13, 12, 2 |
| Activity 3 | 10% | 0 | 0 | 1, 10, 3, 4, 8, 6, 5, 9, 7, 11, 13, 12, 2 |
| Activity 4 | 10% | 0 | 0 | 1, 4, 6, 7, 11 |
| Examination | 50% | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 2 |
| Participation | 10% | 0 | 0 | 1, 10, 3, 4, 8, 6, 5, 9, 7, 11, 13, 12, 2 |
Bibliography
Basic bibliography
A.-Legislation
- Tratado de la Unión Europea, Tratado de Funcionamiento de la Unión Europea
B.- Books
- GUTIÉRREZ ESPADA, CESÁREO; CERVELL HORTAL, MARÍA JOSÉ; PIERNAS LÓPEZ, JUAN JORGE, La Unión Europea y su derecho, Trotta, 2019.
- MANGAS MARTÍN, ARACELI; LIÑÁN NOGUERAS, DIEGO JAVIER, Instituciones y Derecho de la Unión Europea, Tecnos, 10 ed., Madrid, 2020.
Additional bibliography
- ALONSO GARCÍA. RICARDO, Sistema jurídico de la Unión Europea, Civitas, Madrid, 4ª ed., 2014
- SARMIENTO, DANIEL, El Derecho de la Unión Europea, Marcial Pons, Madrid, 2022.
Software
The subject does not require any specific software.