Course Catalogue

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This course offers a wide-ranging and critical exploration of the European Union. It does so by examining the institutional workings and governance of the EU, in part by exploring a range of policy fields. It aims to introduce and critique the EU's institutions (both official and otherwise) and their inter-relationship, in order to better understand where power lies and how it is wielded in the EU, and in specific relation to certain substantive fields of action.

The course is organised around two foci. The first pillar of the course is built on 'fundamentals' of EU law. The first seminars are devoted to a general introduction to the EU institutional framework and the theories and legal principles that seek to explain or guide/limit their behaviour (Block 1). The second pillar is dedicated to examining how institutional actors behave and shape a range of substantive policy fields (Block 2). The Block 2 tranche of seminars may vary from year to year, drawing from expertise from a range of academic colleagues and/or invited guests. Examples of policy fields/substantive topics include competition law, intellectual property law, EU citizenship, immigration law, labour law, human rights protection, economic governance and external relations. 

While the course places considerable attention on EU institutions (official and otherwise) in the process of European integration, it does not necessarily advocate (New) Institutionalism as the sole theory to explain it. Reference to the key theories of integration that have emerged from political science literature will inform a distinctly more critical legal analysis, which will inevitably foreground the role and judgements of the EU judiciary when it comes to examining substantive areas of EU action.

There will be 10 x 2-hour seminars spread throughout semester 2.

This course is only available to LLB students.

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Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Course aims

Knowledge based

■ To understand and analyse the institutional framework of the EU

■ To discuss and critique the principles underpinning the actions of EU institutions/actors

■ To enable students to engage with the critical debates on governance in the EU

■ To enable a deeper and practical understanding of EU policy and law-making

■ To gain a critical understanding of the processes of accountability within the EU

  system

■ With reference to key areas of substantive EU action (eg. competition law, EU citizenship, external relations, euro-governance) to gain a critical understanding of the role and contribution of EU actors and in particular, the EU judiciary

Skills based

■ To enhance research skills in the field of EU law and in particular the ability to read and extract from EU cases with ease

■ To encourage constructive and analytical discussions on key issues in the seminar

■ To write critically about EU institutions and processes, including with reference to specific policy fields.

■ To encourage and enhance learning through enquiry-based group-work in seminars

By the end of this course students will be able to:

Knowledge based

■ discuss and write critically about the institutional structure of the EU and the ways in which the institutions interact

■ identify challenges inherent in the present EU institutional structure with reference to key debates in the literature

■ explain and critique how law and policy is made in general terms and with reference to at least two areas of EU action

■ critique the role and reasoning of EU institutions and actors, in particular the European Courts, in relation to at least two areas of EU action

Skills based

■ confidently read, navigate and extract relevant legal detail from EU cases

■ demonstrate an ability to cite and engage critically with the law and legal literature on EU institutions and EU policy fields

■ give clear oral and written accounts of their own understanding and views, and that of others, drawn from the literature  

■ Be able to work effectively and efficiently in small groups in class in response to particular enquiries.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.