57802 - European Union Law (P-Z)

Academic Year 2024/2025

  • Moduli: Federico Casolari (Modulo 1) (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Law (cod. 9232)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to analyse the main elements of the process of European integration, particularly with regard to the legal implications arising from it. The student will develop the ability to analyse the main implications of the EU institutional structure and action, identifying each time the effects attributable to the work of the EU institutions and its main organs. He/she will also be able to determine the overall effects of the EU legislation into the Italian legal order and to illustrate the main trends of the ongoing reform at EU level.

Course contents

The programme will cover the major institutional and substantives features of the EU legal order.

Concerning the institutional features, the following aspects will be analysed:

  1. the European integration process and the ability of the Union to face local and international crisis scenarios;
  2. the structure, objectives and fundamental values of the European Union;
  3. the EU's competences and related principles;
  4. the institutional framework and the other actors of the EU legal order (namely, the Member States, the EU citizens and other individuals);
  5. the sources of EU law;
  6. the impact of EU law on municipal legal orders and its interaction with the international legal order;
  7. the EU judicial architecture.

The following substantive features of the EU legal order will be considered:

  • the EU internal market and related fundamental freedoms;
  • the Economic and Monetary Union;
  • the Area of freedom, security and justice;
  • the external action of the Union.

The course will be divided in two modules. Module 1 (Prof. Federico Casolari) will cover the institutional features mentioned sub 1-4 while Module 2 (Prof. Federico Ferri) will cover the features mentioned sub 5-7.

Substantive features will be analysed in both modules.

Needless to say, particular emphasis will be given to the EU's and Member States' response to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the reaction to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.


Readings/Bibliography

 

And, alternatively, on of the following texts:

 

 

All students shall consult and have at disposal the official text of the EU Treaties and of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (available here).

Teaching methods

The course will be highly interactive. Theoretical issues will be confronted with practical cases in order to allow the students to understand and verify how EU law is actually implemented. Moreover, students will occasionally be asked to prepare in advance judgments or other reading material uploaded on the Professor's web site in due time.

Assessment methods

The (attending) students' learning will be constantly verified through discussions and debates. The final exam will be oral (for attending and not attending students). The questions posed by the examining commission will regard the topics indicated in the Section “Course contents”.

The course will take place during the first semester and students may therefore sit for the exam starting from January.

The students’ knowledge is assessed through a discussion, to evaluate the actual achievement of the learning outcomes. The exam consists in an interview with the appointed commission on the topics included in the programme.

The assessment will take into account the knowledge of the relevant institutional framework, the ability to analyse doctrinal and jurisprudential opinions and, to single out connections between the relevant topics, to critical reasoning, as well as the clarity of presentation and critical thinking.

By way of example, the following criteria will be used to assess the final mark (that will be out of 30/30):

  • sufficient or barely sufficient knowledge on the programme, limited reasoning ability, some difficulties in using technical and legal language → 18-21/30;
  • fairly good knowledge of the programme, adequate critical reasoning ability, sound use of technical and legal language → 22-25/30;
  • comprehensive knowledge of the programme, notable reasoning ability, good command of technical and legal language → 26-29/30;
  • extensive knowledge of the programme, very good reasoning ability, and ability to fully master technical-legal language → 30-30L/30.

Teaching tools

Teaching materials for regular attenders (slides, documents, bibiographical references) will be made available through the platform Virtuale.

Students which need compensatory tools for reasons of disability or Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) should communicate to the teacher their needs so as to be directed to the dedicated person and arrange on the adoption of the most appropriate measures.

Links to further information

https://european-union.europa.eu/index_it

Office hours

See the website of Federico Casolari

See the website of

SDGs

Quality education Gender equality Reduced inequalities Peace, justice and strong institutions

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.