European and International Law

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/R_EuIntL

Course Objective

Students will be able to critically engage with European Union law and public international law at an advanced scholarly level, learn to employ both legal regimes professionally, and understand their relevance from a societal perspective.

Course Content

The course provides an in-depth understanding of European Union law and public international law structured around a critical engagement with various transnational legal actors. The first part of the course focuses on the European Union. We will study its legal development and structure from the perspective of transnational legal actors such as the Member States, the EU institutions, courts and 'private' parties in their capacity as economic actors or (non-)citizens. We will also critically reflect on the Union's self-understanding as a constitutional entity and discuss its role within the global sphere. By studying examples of how public and private actors attempt to mobilise European Union law to their advantage we provide an understanding of the Union as an arena for political, economic and social conflicts and adopt a novel method of studying the classic doctrines of EU law. The second part of the course focusses on public international law. We will discuss core concepts to build a critical understanding of the foundations of international law, including the doctrines of: sources, subjects, sovereignty, jurisdiction, immunities, responsibility, and human rights. A reappraisal of these concepts will be structured around an in-depth engagement with a series of transnational actors, such as irregularised migrants, terrorist organisations, borders, international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the international community. Discussion will moreover find expression through in-depth engagement with cutting-edge literature on current developments in international law. Finally, in preparation for the assigned paper, this part of the course will also feature two writing clinics. After successful completion of this course, students will have developed a solid grasp of the foundational concepts of European Union law and public international law and will have gained a sound understanding of the interrelationship between these two legal domains. Students will also have familiarised themselves with both theorisations and practical instances of transnational legal studies, and will be able to critically engage with the 'transnational' both from different angles and through the lens of different actors. Last but not least, students will develop an ability to conduct research, write compelling essays, orally present legal arguments and critically reflect on current developments in European and international law. Eindtermen: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9. 11, 12, 15, 16.

Teaching Methods

The course is based on lectures, interactive seminars, guest lectures as well as an excursion to the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg. For students less familiar with European Union Law and Public International Law, we offer 'crash courses'
- introducing the basic doctrines and concepts
- during the first weeks of part one and two of the course in order to bring everyone up to speed.

Method of Assessment

The first part of the course (European Union law) is examined by a case note essay (which will be discussed in seminar format) and a final exam. The second part of the course (Public International Law) is examined by a final essay.

Literature

and an extensive reading list will be announced on Canvas.

Target Audience

Apart from regular master students, the course is also available to students from other universities or faculties, exchange students and contract students (students who register for a single course only). Subject to faculty policy, students can only enroll in the course as a secondary course if they have the prerequisite diploma for the master/specialisation and if they are enrolled in a master programme.