European Union Law from edX

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the legal framework of the european union, including its key actors and decision-making procedures
Understand the main legal principles of eu law and how they evolved
Understand the normative function of eu law as well as its unique relationship with national and international law

Understand how the eu’s substantive law governs its economic system
Understand the law governing the eu's external relations
Be able to read, understand and assess legislative texts pertaining to the eu, including the case law of the court of justice of the eu

Understand the legal framework of the european union, including its key actors and decision-making procedures
Understand the main legal principles of eu law and how they evolved
Understand the normative function of eu law as well as its unique relationship with national and international law
Understand how the eu’s substantive law governs its economic system
Understand the law governing the eu's external relations
Be able to read, understand and assess legislative texts pertaining to the eu, including the case law of the court of justice of the eu

Syllabus

Part 1 | EU Institutional Law

Module 1: Nature and Evolution of the EU Legal Order

Discuss and critically reflect on EU values and the principles of EU integration

Explain and reflect on the gradual process of EU integration and distinguish EU integration from other forms of regional integration

Explain the legal milestones in the historical development of the EU and the concept of ‘integration through law’

Discuss how the EU Treaties reflect the features and nuances of EU integration

Explain the ‘community method’ and its importance for EU integration

Module 2: Nature and Evolution of the EU Legal Order

Explain and critically reflect on the fundamental role of the Member States in the process of European integration

Explain the concept of EU citizenship and the political/administrative rights that derive from it

Explain the main powers, composition, and internal functioning of the five main EU institutions: the Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the Commission, and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)

Identify the main legal actions and remedies available at the CJEU and read a CJEU case.

Module 3: EU Competences, Legal Acts and Decision-Making

Distinguish between different sources of EU law

Explain the importance of the principle of conferral in the exercise of EU powers and in the relationship between the EU and its member states

Identify the legal basis of different EU acts and explain the different types of EU competence

Explain and discuss the importance of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality in the exercise of EU shared competence and the role of national parliaments in safeguarding their respect

Describe the main steps of the ordinary and the special legislative procedures for the adoption of EU acts

Explain and critically reflect on the relevance of the principles of primacy and direct effect in EU integration

Part 2: EU Substantive Law

Module 4: EU Internal Market Law

Define the notion of the internal market and explain its central role in the EU legal order

Explain the interplay between negative and positive integration in the ongoing process of creating the internal market

Distinguish between the four freedoms (goods, persons, services, capital) and select the relevant provisions of primary law

Identify the rights that derive from the fundamental freedoms and determine whether a national rule is compatible with primary law

Explain and distinguish the mechanisms of positive integration (e.g., harmonisation)

Module 5: EU Competition Law

Explain the main goals of EU competition law and policy

Define the notion of ‘undertaking’ and apply it in practice

Identify the five main pillars of competition law

Understand the prohibitions against restrictive agreements and abuse of dominance and apply them to concrete cases

Distinguish between public and private enforcement and its tools

Module 6: The Economic and Monetary Union

Explain the reasons for the establishment of a common currency

Identify the key features of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)

Explain the EU's main competences in economic policy and the main institutions involved in its implementation

Explain the EU's main competences in monetary policy and the role of the European Central Bank (ECB) in this policy field

Critically reflect on the weaknesses of the EMU economic pillar

Critically reflect on the EU's use of economic and monetary policy instruments in responding to recent and upcoming challenges, notably the sovereign debt crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and digitalisation

Part 3: EU External Relations Law

Module 7: Foundations of EU External Relations

Explain and reflect on the evolution of EU external relations law

Discuss and critically reflect on the objectives, values, and principles of EU external relations

Explain what international legal personality is, and why it matters for the EU

Distinguish between express and implied EU competences in the field of external relations

Explain the doctrine of parallelism and the relevance of implied EU external competences

Module 8: Actors of EU External Relations

Explain and distinguish between the roles of the European Council, the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European External Action Service, and the different EU delegations in EU external relations

Explain the unique status of the EU as a diplomatic actor and identify the problems of diplomatic law that arise as a consequence of this unique status

Explain the relationship between the EU and the United Nations and give examples of other international organisations with which the EU cooperates

Module 9: Instruments of EU External Relations

Explain the different instruments available to the EU to conduct its external relations and distinguish these from other instruments used at the internal level of the EU

Explain the process of conclusion of international agreements and the concept of mixed international agreements

Explain the concept of restrictive measures and give concrete examples of their use by the EU in recent international conflicts

Explain and critically reflect on the distinction between EU law and international law

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers a broad range of current and relevant EU law topics across three modules

Provides a strong foundation in EU law for beginners

Covers the evolution of EU legislation and institutions

Explores how the EU's substantive law governs its economic system

Examines the EU's external relations law

Provides a comprehensive overview of the EU institutional framework, legal principles, substantive areas, and external relations

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in European Union Law with these activities:

Review EU Law terminology

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Provides an opportunity to strengthen foundational knowledge and understanding of key concepts and legal principles in EU law.

Browse courses on Legal principles

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Consult legal dictionaries and glossaries specific to EU law.
Review course materials and handouts for definitions and explanations of key terms.

Review substantive law of the EU

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Understand the substantive law governing the EU's internal market, competition, economic and monetary union, and external relations.

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Review the EU Treaties and other primary sources of EU law.
Read case law from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
Take practice quizzes and exams to test your understanding.

Discuss EU law topics with peers

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Engage in discussions with peers to deepen your understanding of EU law and its application in practice.

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Join an online forum or discussion group dedicated to EU law.
Participate in class discussions and ask questions to your peers.
Organize a study group with classmates to discuss specific topics.

Seven other activities

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Explore EU Law Databases

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Develops research skills and familiarity with specialized EU law databases, enhancing the ability to access and analyze legal materials.

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Identify relevant EU law databases such as EUR-Lex and CELEX.
Follow online tutorials or documentation on how to navigate and search these databases.
Practice searching for specific legal texts, case law, and other relevant documents.
Save and organize search results for future reference.

Analyze CJEU case law

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Develop the ability to read and understand CJEU case law, which is essential for understanding the development of EU law.

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Read a CJEU case and identify the key facts, issues, and holding.
Analyze the reasoning of the Court and identify the legal principles applied.
Compare and contrast different CJEU cases on the same topic.

Summarize CJEU Cases

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Reinforces understanding of EU legal principles and jurisprudence by actively engaging with case law.

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Select significant CJEU cases relevant to the course modules.
Read and analyze the judgments, focusing on key legal principles and arguments.
Create summaries that highlight the main facts, legal issues, and rulings.
Share summaries with peers for feedback and discussion (optional).

Peer Discussion on EU Legal Precedents

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Fosters collaborative learning and exchange of perspectives by engaging in discussions about case law and its impact on EU law.

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Select a group of peers.
Choose a recent or significant CJEU case.
Research the case and its background.
Meet to discuss the case, focusing on its legal reasoning, implications, and relevance to broader EU law principles.

Apply EU Law Principles to Case Scenarios

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Provides opportunities to apply EU law principles to practical situations, strengthening analytical and problem-solving skills.

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Review hypothetical case scenarios or real-world examples.
Identify the relevant EU law principles and concepts.
Analyze the facts and apply the principles to reach a reasoned conclusion.
Discuss and compare different interpretations and approaches with peers (optional).

Participate in EU Law Forums and Communities

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Connects students with a broader community of EU law professionals and enthusiasts, providing opportunities for knowledge sharing and engagement.

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Identify relevant online forums, discussion groups, or social media groups focused on EU law.
Join these groups and participate in discussions.
Ask questions, share insights, and engage with other members.
Attend online events or webinars organized by these groups (optional).

Write a legal memo on an EU law topic

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Demonstrate your understanding of EU law by writing a legal memo that analyzes a specific legal issue.

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Choose a specific EU law topic to research.
Conduct legal research using primary and secondary sources.
Write a legal memo that outlines the legal issue, analyzes the relevant law, and provides a conclusion.

Career center

Learners who complete European Union Law will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

European Union Affairs Specialist

This course will help you build a foundation for a career as a European Union Affairs Specialist, a professional who advises organizations on EU policies and regulations.

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Policy Advisor

As a Policy Advisor, you will research and analyze policy issues, develop policy recommendations, and advise policymakers. This course, European Union Law, will provide you with the knowledge of EU law and policy necessary to succeed in this role.

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University Professor

If your goal is to become a University Professor specializing in European Union law, this course will help you build a strong foundation for teaching and research in this field.

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Political Scientist

This course on European Union Law will be particularly useful for those interested in pursuing a career as a Political Scientist, as it provides a deep understanding of the political dynamics and decision-making processes within the EU.

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Competition Lawyer

This course, by providing a thorough understanding of EU competition law, can be particularly useful for pursuing a career as a Competition Lawyer.

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Trade Policy Analyst

This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to succeed as a Trade Policy Analyst, a role that involves analyzing and developing trade policies.

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Economic Analyst

This course provides the knowledge and skills to succeed as an Economic Analyst, a role that involves analyzing economic data and trends to forecast economic activity.

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Lawyer

This course, European Union Law, will help you build a foundation for a career as a Lawyer, a role that involves advising clients on legal issues and representing them in court.

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Public Policy Analyst

This course, by providing a comprehensive understanding of EU law and policy, can be particularly useful for someone pursuing a career as a Public Policy Analyst.

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Financial Analyst

This course provides a solid foundation for a career as a Financial Analyst, a professional who analyzes financial data and provides investment recommendations.

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Regulatory Affairs Manager

This course will be helpful for someone who wants to work as a Regulatory Affairs Manager, a role that involves ensuring that a company's products and operations comply with government regulations.

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Diplomat

This course, European Union Law, can be particularly useful for those interested in a career as a Diplomat, as it provides a deep understanding of the legal framework governing the EU's external relations.

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International Relations Manager

This course on European Union Law will be useful for someone pursuing a career as an International Relations Manager, a role that involves managing and coordinating international relations activities for an organization.

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Journalist

This course may be helpful for Journalists covering European Union affairs, as it provides a deep understanding of the EU's legal and political framework.

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Writer

This course may also be useful for aspiring Writers, as it can help develop the skills needed to write clearly and persuasively about complex legal and political issues.

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