1.History of the European integration

In these introductory lectures, we will examine the history of the European integration process and the important role of law in that process. We will discuss the context within which the integration process was started, and the changes (legal, political, geographical) that it has gone through from 1950 until today,

 2. The EU Institutions and the legislative process

In these lectures, we will look at the institutional machinery of the EU (i.e. the Commission, the Council, the Parliament and the Council of the EU) and focus on what can be seen as its “political process”. It is generally recognised that there is no classical separation of powers in the EU between the legislature, executive and judiciary. Instead, each institution exercises a combination of these roles and their powers are further blurred by the distinction between national and supranational level of government. Understanding this proves fundamental to anybody interested in practising EU law or involvement in EU politics. 

3. Enforcement and judicial review of EU Law

The EU does not have a police force, or an elaborate system of EU courts to enforce the obligations that Member States enter into. So how does it ensure that Member States do not breach EU law but implement and enforce its norms? We will examine the judicial architecture of the EU, mainly the European Court of Justice, in Luxembourg. We will also look here at the infringement procedure, through which the Commission can take Member States to Court to ensure that it obeys EU law. We will also look at the possibility for institutions, Members States and individuals to challenge the validity of EU law in an action before the ECJ and we will also review the most important procedure, preliminary reference, through which national courts can send questions on the interpretation and validity of EU Law to the Court.

4.EU Law key principles: supremacy and direct effect 

According to the Court of Justice, EU law is an autonomous legal order that limits national sovereignty and creates rights directly which individuals can invoke in national courts. EU law is based, mainly, on two principles: supremacy and direct effect, both of them created and developed by the Court of Justice. Both will be examined through the analysis of decisions. 

5. The rule of law and fundamental rights

The EU claims to be founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. But what is the reality? Does the EU have an autonomous notion of these values, and what role should fundamental rights play within the EU?

The rule of law is one of the EU’s foundational values and is generally considered a distinctive feature of the EU, which distinguishes it from other international organisations. Its rules and norms are considered by many to be similar to those of a federal state; yet, throughout its history the EU sought to avoid such description in its self-portrait presenting it as a “sui generis” entity. EU competences will also be examined.

In this session we are going to discuss three issues: (a) the role of fundamental rights in the post-war European political and constitutional context, (b) the evolution of the legal system of fundamental rights protection in the EU, through the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the general principles of EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights; and (c) the question of how and if  the EU can secure its fundamental values, which include fundamental rights and the rule of law when its own Member States are not complying with these values. 

 6. EU citizenship

Union citizenship was introduced in 1992 in the Treaty of Maastricht as a ‘purely political declaration’. The idea was, bluntly put, that the construction of a Political Union presupposed the creation of a ‘European people’, even tough only on paper. Since then, the concept of Union citizenship has changed significantly, and now constitutes the ‘most fundamental status of nationals of the Member States’, entitling them to equal treatment wherever they find themselves in the EU. This lecture will analyse the content of the rights associated to EU citizenship and how the some of these rights are now being challenged in some Member States. 

7. The four fundamental freedoms 

These lectures will examine the political and historical reasons behind the internal market and the different legislative tools to harmonize legislation, mainly in the area of goods, the one that has been mostly developed. We will also study the main cases through which the Court of Justice has developed some of the concepts included in the treaties, like, for instance, “measures having equivalent effects”.

 8. EU competition law 

Competition law constitutes one of the key areas of EU competence. EU competition law aims at ensuring a free and fair competition within the internal market to the benefit of all EU citizens. The lecture will deal with the rules on company concentrations and mergers as well as the limitations imposed by the Treaties to state aid and the way these rules are enforced.