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European Union Law: The Four Freedoms

Vak
2015-2016

Please note that the following description of the course is only provisional and therefore subject to change.

Dutch students that have followed the 5 ECTS Course Europees Recht (BA III) will not receive credits for this course due to the material overlap.

Admission requirements

Background in law, preferably students are familiar with the basics of EU law (institutions, treaties, general principles)

Sufficient command of English (IELTS 6.5 or higher)

Description

The EU internal market is at the very heart of the European integration process. It comprises an area where the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured. This course will focus precisely on the internal market and its four fundamental freedoms. The free movement of goods, persons, services and capital will be studied through case-law of the European courts and their daily impact will be discussed: what are the consequences for natural and legal persons within the EU and how can their rights be protected? Can you establish yourself as a lawyer in other EU-Member States, can your family join, can your children get study grants? What are the rules behind French cheese, Belgian chocolate, Spanish wine and Swedish bread? These are just some of the issues which will be dealt with throughout this course.
Through assignments and class discussions, students will get a practical grasp of EU substantive law and will learn to work with the EU treaties and secondary EU legislation. Students will learn to read and analyze cases from the European Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and study some of its most important judgments.

Course objectives

Objectives of the course

  • To provide students with a thorough understanding of the rationale and fundamentals behind the EU internal market;

  • To provide students with a clear understanding of the four freedoms: free movement of goods, persons, services and capital;

  • To teach students how to read and analyze judgments by the European courts, as well as EU legislation;

  • To teach students how to work with and solve case study through assignments;

  • To provide students with an overall understanding of the daily impact of the EU and its laws.

Achievement levels
The following achievement levels apply with regard to the course:
By the end of this course, students will:

  • Have a good understanding of the functioning of the European internal market;

  • Be able to read case law by the European courts and analyze the main legal issues;

  • Be able to analyze and interpret EU legislation.

Timetable

The timetable of this course can be found in uSis.

Mode of instruction

Lectures

  • Number of (2 hour) lectures: 10
    The course will take place over five weeks with two classes per week. Each lecture lasts two hours and they are interactive. The lecturer will discuss with students the assigned reading materials and students will present cases which have been assigned previously.

  • Names of lecturers: Dr Darinka Piqani

  • Required preparation by students:
    Students should read carefully all assigned reading materials and cases. They should actively participate in discussion. They will also be required to submit written assignments on case studies concerning practical issues of EU law.

Seminars
None

Other methods of instruction
None

Assessment method

Examination form(s)

  • Written exam, open questions (75%).

  • Two written assignments (the first counts for 10%, the second for 15% of your final grade)

The assignments as well as the exam consist of case studies to test whether you have understood the material. The assignments help you prepare for the exam. The exam consists of three case studies.
If many of you fail, the resit is a written exam like the previous one. If only a few of you fail, it becomes on oral exam. You will be notified of this in time.

  • Marks for the assignments remain valid for the resit.

Submission procedures
Assignment will be submitted through blackboard

Areas to be tested within the exam
The examination syllabus consists of the required reading (literature) for the course, the course information guide and the subjects taught in the lectures, the seminars and all other instructions which are part of the course.

Blackboard

Course materials will be made available on on Blackboard, which is the faculty’s e-learning environment. On the specific course site you may find additional information of an organisational nature as well as references to new judgments and other developments. Blackboard will also offer you an opportunity to ask questions. More information on this course is offered in Blackboard. More information on this course is offered in Blackboard.

Reading list

Obligatory course materials
Literature:

  • C. Barnard and S. Peers (eds), European Union Law, Oxford University Press, 2014 Course

Course information guide:

  • Available on Blackboard

Reader:

  • Course materials, such as cases from the Court of Justice of the EU will be made available on Blackboard

Recommended course materials

  • Essential EU Law in Charts (2nd Lisbon Edition) by C. Tobler and J. Beglinger (Budapest, 2010).

Registration

Students have to register for courses and exams through uSis.

Contact information

  • Co-ordinator: Dr. Giovanni Gruni

  • Work address: KOG Building B1.37

  • Telephone number:071 527 1578

  • Email: g.gruni@lawleidenuniv.nl

Institution/division

  • Institute: Public Law

  • Department: European Law

  • Room number secretary: B. 121

  • Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9-17h

  • Telephone number secretary: 071 – 527 8837

  • Email: europeesrecht@law.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks

None