EUROPEAN LAW and INSTITUTIONS (EUR 301A)

Department of Politics and European Studies Fall 2012

EUROPEAN LAW AND INSTITUTIONS (EUR 301a)

Monday and Thursday (2:15 PM-3:30 PM)

Room: Balkanski Academic Center 202

Course objective:

This course introduces students to key characteristics of EU law and EU institutional framework. The emphasis is placed on composition, powers and functions of the main institutions of the Union. The course also focuses on the principles of EU law; fundamental rights; Union citizenship; enforcement and application of EU law.

The course evaluation will be based on the following:

Essays (6 x 35) 210

Midterm 200

Final Exam 390

Class participation 200

Written assignments:

The written assignments are essays. The purpose of these reports is to give you the opportunity to express your views on key concepts discussed in class. These should be well-written reports.

Midterm exam:

The exam will be closed book and you will be asked to provide short definitions of basic terms covered in class and to answer several short questions.

Final exam:

The final exam will be comprised of two parts: the first part will be closed book and you will be asked to provide short definitions of basic terms covered in class and to answer several short questions. The second part will be open book (you may use your notes and the readings assigned for the course) and you will be asked to identify and apply rules of EU law to hypothetical situations.

Class participation:

Class participation includes covering the assigned readings and being ready to discuss them in class.

Readings:

Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law (3rd ed. 2011), cases and online materials.

Additional materials: PETERSON JOHN, AND SHACKLETON MICHAEL, THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (2ND ED. 2006)

Instructor information:

Todor Kolarov

Ext.: 484

Office: 312 BAC

Office hours: 13.15 – 14.15

e-mail:

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Topics

August 27 Introduction

Introduction

August 30 Evolution of the EU

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law p. 5-9; p. 13-16 and p. 33-46

September 3 Expansion of the EU

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law p. 9-24

Writing assignment:

·  EU evolution and expansion and its effect on my country – writing assignment draft due (1-2 pages)

September 10 Overview of EU Institutions. European Commission

ü  Art. 13-19, Treaty of the European Union - http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0013:0046:EN:PDF

ü  Art. 17, Treaty of the EU - http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0013:0046:EN:PDF

ü  Art. 244 – 249 of Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) - http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0047:0200:EN:PDF

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 51-55

ü  PETERSON JOHN, AND SHACKLETON MICHAEL, THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, p. 82; p. 89-94 (skip Table 5.2 and Exhibit 5.3); p. 96-97.

September 13 Council of Ministers

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 56-63

ü  Art. 15, Treaty of the EU - http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0013:0046:EN:PDF

ü  PETERSON JOHN, AND SHACKLETON MICHAEL, THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, p. 61-73 (skip exhibit 4.1 and table 4.1); p. 272- 292 (2ND ED. 2006)

ü  http://www.consilium.europa.eu/council.aspx

September 17 European Council

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 63-64

ü  Art. 16, Treaty of the EU - http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0013:0046:EN:PDF

ü  http://www.european-council.europa.eu/the-institution

ü  PETERSON JOHN, AND SHACKLETON MICHAEL, THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, p. 37-58; p 60-73 (2ND ED. 2006)

Writing assignment:

·  EU evolution and expansion and its effect on your country – writing assignment due (4-5 pages)

September 20 European Parliament

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 64-70

ü  PETERSON JOHN, AND SHACKLETON MICHAEL, THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, p. 104-113

ü  Maurer Andreas, The European Parliament after Lisbon: Policy-making and Control - http://www.eu-consent.net/library/deliverables/D19.pdf

ü  http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/00b9de8689/Oversight-and-control-functions.html

ü  http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/0042423726/Parliament-and-the-Lisbon-Treaty.html

September 24 European Court of Justice

ü  Art. 16, Treaty of the EU - http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0013:0046:EN:PDF

ü  Art 251-281 TFEU - http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:0047:0200:EN:PDF

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 70-79

ü  PETERSON JOHN, AND SHACKLETON MICHAEL, THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, p. 125-137

ü  Court of Justice - http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo2_7024/#composition

ü  General Court - http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo2_7033/

ü  Civil Services Tribunal (Composition and Jurisdiction only)- http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/T5_5230/

September 27 Other institutions. Advisory bodies

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 79-80

October 1 Legislative process

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 132-146

ü  Ordinary legislative process - http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/0080a6d3d8/Ordinary-legislative-procedure.html

ü  Consents –

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/0087a559c8/Consent.html

ü  Consultation - http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/00c5e7159b/Consultation.html

ü  Budgetary procedure - http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/0007aefcf2/Budgetary-procedure.html

October 4 Inter-institutional dynamics

ü  LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENT: THE TREATY OF LISBON: AN ONGOING SEARCH FOR STRUCTURAL EQUILIBRIUM, 16 Colum. J. Eur. L. 521 (2010) (available at AUBG library)

ü  DEVUYS YOURI, THE EUROPEAN UNION'S INSTITUTIONAL BALANCE AFTER THE TREATY OF LISBON: "COMMUNITY METHOD" AND "DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT" REASSESSED, 39 Geo. J. Int'l L. 247 (2008) (available at AUBG library)

Writing assignment

·  Is Democratic Deficit in the EU an Issue after Lisbon? – writing assignment draft due (1-2 pages)

October 8 Sources of EU Law I

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p.105-113

ü  Sources of EU law

http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/institutional_affairs/decisionmaking_process/l14534_en.htm

ü  Primary law - http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/institutional_affairs/decisionmaking_process/l14530_en.htm

October 11 Sources of EU Law II

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p.113-120 and p. 130-131

ü  Regulations - http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/institutional_affairs/decisionmaking_process/l14522_en.htm

ü  Directives – http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/institutional_affairs/decisionmaking_process/l14527_en.htm

ü  Decisions – http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/institutional_affairs/decisionmaking_process/ai0036_en.htm

ü  Conventions and agreements - http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/institutional_affairs/decisionmaking_process/ai0035_en.htm

ü  Supplementary law - http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/institutional_affairs/decisionmaking_process/l14533_en.htm

October 15 Review session

Writing assignment

• Is Democratic Deficit in the EU an Issue after Lisbon? – writing assignment due (4-5 pages)

October 18 Mid-term exam

October 22 Empowerment of the EU. Subsidiarity

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 83-103

October 25 Supremacy of EU law

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 148-155

November 5 Direct applicability and direct effect

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 178-192

ü  Biret case overview

http://www.wilmerhale.com/files/Publication/c673c4d0-008b-4966-b42c-1bf0790949eb/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/ab56866e-7719-4e62-bbef-1589dc44aa31/News_215243279180210045618001300.pdf

November 8 Fundamental rights

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 120-124

ü  Douglas-Scott Sionaidh, The European Union and Human Rights after the Treaty of Lisbon, HRLR (2011) 11(4): 645-682 (available at AUBG library)

ü  The Kadi case: Rethinking the Relationship between EU Law and International Law? - http://www.cjel.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/albertposch-the-kadi-case.pdf

Writing assignment

·  The Effect of Direct Effect on EU Citizens’ Rights - writing assignment draft outline due (1-2 pages)

November 12 State Liability

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 192-196

November 15 Direct ECJ jurisdiction – Actions against MS

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 219-228

November 19 Direct ECJ jurisdiction – Actions to annul EU acts I

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 229-244

November 22 Direct ECJ jurisdiction – Actions to annul EU acts II

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 244-245

Writing assignment

• The Effect of Direct Effect on EU Citizens’ Rights - writing assignment due (4-5 pages)

November 26 Direct ECJ jurisdiction – Actions for failure to act

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 245-249

November 29 Direct ECJ jurisdiction – Non-contractual liability of the EU

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 249-258

December 3 Direct ECJ jurisdiction – Plea of illegality

ü  Foster Nigel, Foster on EU Law, p. 258-260

December 6 Revision

Statement on academic integrity:

Suspected violation of academic integrity standards will be addressed according to AUBG policy.

Disclaimer:

This syllabus is subject to modification. The instructor will communicate with students on any changes as in the schedule or assignments.

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