Course Content (Syllabus)
The course offers a general introduction to the legal system of the European Union. It is divided in four units, which cover the following subjects:
Unit 1: The EU Legal System: a) Historical perspective, b) Current formation of the Treaties, c) Institutions and decision-making, d) Acts of the Institutions and hierarchy of EU rules.
Unit 2: EU law and national law. The principles of Conferral, Direct Effect and Supremacy.
Unit 3: The system of judicial protection: a) Enforcement actions against member states, b) Preliminary reference and state liability, c) Review of legality of EU acts.
Unit 4: Substantive EU law: a) The internal market, especially free movement of goods, b) Protection of human rights in the EU legal order.
Selected bibliography and ECJ judgments will be provided.
Keywords
European Union legal system, treaties, direct effect, supremacy, judicial protection