57802 - European Union Law

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will know

• the mechanisms governing the EU system and the links between supranational and national competences in the framework of the main policies underpinning the European integration process

• the role of the EU political institution 

• the impact of the EU binding acts on national publica institutions and companies

• the powers of the EU vis à vis the responsibility of Member States, including all core administrative levels 

 

Course contents

 

• PART 1: Introduction. Main aspects concerning the institution and evolution of the Communities, the post-Lisbon Union and the challenges affecting the European integration process. Focus on the EU values, principles and objectives, also with reference to the membership and integration process.
• PART 2: Relations between legal orders. Relations between the EU legal order, on the one hand, and the ones of the international community and the Member States, on the other. Focus on the EU’s competence, as well as its autonomy and the primacy of the EU law over the laws of the Member States.
• PART 3: EU Institutions. Excursus of the EU political institutions. Focus on representation issues, horizontal relations and the role played by the Court of Justice on the European integration process.
• PART 4: EU law. EU law sources and key procedures and effects related to EU primary and secondary law. Focus on the role played by Member States on the definition of the law of the EU.
• PART 5. Judicial remedies. Main proceedings before the Court of Justice. Focus on the action for annulment, infringement procedure and preliminary ruling.

STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO INDICATE TOPICS OF GENERAL/SPECIFIC INTEREST. THEMATIC SUGGESTIONS WILL BE DULY CONSIDERED, EITHER FOR AD HOC EXPLANATIONS OR IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY CASE STUDIES.

Readings/Bibliography

Even though the exam will be based on the explanations provided in class, it is advisable to consult one of the following books:

• Girolamo Strozzi, Roberto Mastroianni, Diritto dell'Unione Europea. Parte istituzionale, Giappichelli, 2020
• Roberto Adam, Antonio Tizzano, Lineamenti di diritto dell'Unione europea, Giappichelli, 2022
• Fabio Ferraro, Patrizia De Pasquale, Giuseppe Tesauro – Manuale di Diritto dell'Unione europea - Volume I, Editoriale Scientifica, 2022

Teaching methods

Interactive classes. There will be at least two explorative tests and/or group works.

Assessment methods

The exam will be oral. Marks will also depend on the participation in class.

Teaching tools

As a general rule, only the main reference sources will be shown in class. PPT presentations will be rather short and will mainly serve to recap the main points of each class, with a view to reducing the risk of underestimating the importance of legal reasoning and lowering the interaction between students and professor.

Office hours

See the website of Federico Ferri