This module aims to:

To introduce the constitutional and institutional law of the European Union;
To develop an understanding of EU legislative procedures; the nature and limits of Union competence; and the system of judicial review governing Union acts;
To explore the application of EU law within national legal systems;
To encourage you to think critically about the integration process, e.g., the democratic character of EU decision-making processes and the effectiveness of the system of judicial protection against Union acts.
To examine the development of EU law relating to the free movement of goods, free movement of workers and free movement of economically inactive citizens (such as students and retired persons). To explore and understand doctrinal and policy problems as relevant to the topics under consideration.
To promote development of essay writing and problem solving skills.

(LO1) Demonstrate a basic understanding of the constitutional and institutional law of the European Union.

(LO2) Understand, apply, and critique the Union legal method.

(LO3) Handle Union legal materials, including the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, EU Treaties and Union legislation.

(LO4) Think critically about the evolving process of EU integration.

(LO5) Apply specialist knowledge to consider contemporary issues in the field of study.

(LO6) Think critically about the evolving process of less EU integration

(LO7) Understand how Union law is enforced in substantive areas.

(LO8) Apply provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and EU secondary legislation to substantive issues.

(LO9) Understand Opinions of Advocates General and judgements of the Court of Justice and critically assess their contribution to the development of EU law.

(LO10) Solve problems in these areas and discuss the process of European integration.

(LO11) Appreciate similarities and differences between EU free movement law as it applies to goods, on the one hand, and persons, on the other hand.

(LO12) Appreciate differences in approach demanded to effectively answer essay and problem-style questions.

(S1) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills)

(S2) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S3) Research skills - Awareness of /commitment to academic integrity

(S4) Time and project management - Project planning

(S5) Critical thinking and problem solving - Evaluation

(S6) Skills in using technology - Using common applications (work processing, databases, spreadsheets etc.)

(S7) Critical thinking and problem solving - Problem identification

(S8) Critical thinking and problem solving - Synthesis

(S9) Essay writing and argumentation

The syllabus will cover topics such as;
Fundamentals of EU legal order, e.g. Treaties and hierarchy of legal norms
EU institutions (European Council, Council, European Parliament, Commission etc) and decision-making processes (legislative and non-legislative)
EU system of competences, e.g. attributed powers, subsidiarity, proportionality, Charter of Fundamental Rights, general principles of Union law, judicial review of Union acts
EU law in Member State legal systems, e.g. consistent interpretation, direct effect, primacy, effective judicial protection
EU law in the UK legal system: UK withdrawal from EU; key features of EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement; key features of domestic system of “retained EU law
Introduction to the Internal Market and Customs Union
Free movement of goods: fiscal barriers
Free movement of goods: non-fiscal barriers
Free movement of persons: workers
Free movement of persons: non-economically active Union citizens

Seminars

8 x 1 hr 30 seminars –
-introduction to module and EU law
-EU institutions and decision-making procedures
-EU system of competences
-EU law in Member State legal systems
-fiscal barriers to free movement of goods
-non-fiscal barriers to free movement of goods
-free movement of workers
-free movement of non-economically inactive citizens

Note: substantive seminars will work as follows:
-advance reading and questions, including clearly identified topic for in-session “group work”;
-seminar opens with tutor-led structured discussion to address key points / clarify student queries;
-students then organised into groups to discuss the relevant “group work” issue and prepare a collective response;
-seminar concludes with brief group presentations / discussion.

Lectures

22 x 1 hour lecture per semester
-introduction to EU law
-EU instit utions and decision-making procedures
-EU system of competences
-EU law in Member State legal systems
-EU law in the UK legal system
-introduction to Internal Market
-fiscal barriers to free movement of goods
-non-fiscal barriers to free movement of goods
-free movement of workers
-free movement of non-economically inactive citizens

Drop-in sessions
6 drop-in sessions to complement lecture and seminar learning.
(3 x 1 hour drop in sessions per semester).

Students are invited to submit questions in advance; sessions will also focus on approaches to answering essay and problem questions.

MCQs
Two MCQ tests (one per semester) focusing on both substantive knowledge of topics and transferable skills.