The Law of the European Union 4003-114PW
The lecture serves principally the purpose of explaining the theoretical and practical issues and emphasizing the notions, problems and case-law of the European Court of Justice which can be particularly difficult for students with no legal background. The teaching method focuses on the explanation of the individual topics by the lecturer with some elements of a direct interaction with participating students (eg. discussion).
Apart from text books, additional handouts and materials are prepared at each lecture which serve the purpose of making lectures more comprehensible to students and provide a useful assistance in the future revision for the exam. In addition, references and examples of the current news agenda are given at each lecture in order to make students aware of the usefulness of the subject of their study.
The course encompasses the following particular topics:
I. Introduction
II. The essence of the EU
III. The constitutional foundations of the EU
IV. EU and its Member States
V. EU and its Member States
VI. Sources of EU law (part I)
VII. Sources of EU law (part II)
VIII. The basics of EU legislative procedures
IX. EU law in national legal orders (part I)
X. EU law in national legal orders (part II)
XI. EU law in national legal orders (part III)
XII. EU and the individual
XIII. Protection of fundamental rights in EU law
XIV. The basics of the EU external relations
XV. EU law in the Polish legal order
The expected workload for students:
lecture - 30 h
preparation to the lecture - 30 h
preparation to the exam - 30 h
total - 90 h
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
After completion of the learning process a student will:
KNOWLEDGE:
1. Possess knowledge and understanding of EU constitutional foundations in the EU law system
2. Understand the basic principles, objectives and notions of the EU constitutional law
3. Comprehend the structure of hierarchy of laws in EU law and vertical and horizontal division of powers to adopt and implement law
4. Learn and understand the principles, scope of application and processes of EU law implementation, interpretation and application in national legal systems, including the examples of Polish law
5. Possess knowledge on the relevant case-law of the CJEU.
SKILLS:
1. Be able to identify and solve normative problems in EU law and appraise their significance for the legal system
2. Be able to reproduce analytically knowledge of the basic theoretical and practical issues of the EU constitutional system and of the functioning of the EU institutions
3. Easily make use of the EU sources of law and interpret the European case-law
4. Possess skills of analysing how EU law is applied in national legal orders and how decision-making processes and the judicial protection system functions at the EU level
5. Be able to resolve EU constitutional law case-studies.
SOCIETAL COMPETENCE:
1. Be able to evaluate critically the events occurring in the EU public sphere regarding the functioning of the EU constitutional and legal system, especially with respect to resulting consequences for EU citizens
2. Acquire self-confidence in the application of the theoretical knowledge possessed and for the participation in debates regarding positive and negative impact of EU constitutional system for EU citizens.
3. Feel responsibility for understanding of the Poland’s place and its legal system position in the EU legal order
Assessment criteria
The assessment of the student's work is undertaken through a written exam which takes place at the end of the semester. The compulsory pre-condition for taking the exam is a successful completion of relevant tutorials.
The form of exam is written and comprises 3 parts: a multiple-choice test; a reading comprehension of a legal text and cases. Each part is of a different epistemic character in order to provide a maximum objectivity of evaluation of the student's work.
Bibliography
Key textbook:
• J. Barcz, M. Górka, A. Wyrozumska, „Instytucje i Prawo Unii Europejskiej”, Wolters Kluwer, wydanie 4, Warszawa 2015.
Additional course material:
• A. Łazowski, A. Zawidzka-Łojek, „Instytucje i porządek prawny Unii Europejskiej. Vademecum”, wydanie 2, Instytut Wydawniczy EuroPrawo, Warszawa 2015.
• M. Koenig-Witkowska, A. Łazowski, R. Ostrihansky, Prawo Instytucjonalne Unii Europejskiej, wydanie 6, C.H. Beck, Warszawa 2015.
• J. Barcz (red.), „Ustrój Unii Europejskiej” (wydanie zbiorowe, tomy I-XII; lub podstawowe tomy II, IV-VI z tej samej serii pt. „System prawa UE”), Instytut Wydawniczy EuroPrawo, Warszawa 2010 – wydanie 3, uwzględniające Traktat Lizboński.
Further literature:
• Traktat o Funkcjonowaniu Unii Europejskiej. Komentarz, A. Wróbel (red.), Warszawa 2012.
• Karta Praw Podstawowych UE. Komentarz, A. Wróbel (red.), Warszawa 2013.
• D. Chalmers, G. Davies, G. Monti, European Union law: cases and materials, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2010.
• P. Craig, G. de Burca, EU law Text Cases and Materials, Oxford, Oxford University Press 2011.
CASE-LAW:
1. 26-62 Van Gend en Loos p. Holenderska Administracja Skarbowa
2. C-208/09 Ilonka Sayn-Wittgenstein
3. C-265/95 Komisja p. Francji
4. C-380/03 Niemcy p. Parlamentowi i Radzie (36-88 and 144-158)
5. C-58/08 Vodafone
6. 34/73 Variola v Amministrazione delle Finanze
7. 6/64 F. Costa p. ENEL
8. 11/70 Internationale Handelsgesellschaft p. Einfuhr- und Vorratsstelle
9. 106/77 Simmenthal II p. Administracja Finansów Państwowych
10. C-314/08 Krzysztof Filipiak
11. 43-75 G. Defrenne p. Sabena
12. 9/70 Franz Grad
13. 8/81 U. Becker p. Urząd Finansowy Munster-Innenstadt
14. 152/84 Marshall i C-80/06 Carp p. Ecorad Srl
15. C-194/94 CIA Security International p. Signalson SA
16. 14/83 S. Colson i E. Kamann p. Kraj Federalny Północna Nadrenia-Westfalia
17. C-144/04 Mangold
18. C-555/07 Seda Kucukdeveci
19. C-6/90 i C-9/90 Francovich
20. C-91/92 P. Faccini Dori p. Recreb Srl.
21. C-46/93 i C-48/93 Brasserie du Pecheur p. RFN.
22. C-224/01 Gerhard Köbler
23. C-200/02 Zhu and Chen p. Secretary of State
24. C-34/09 Gerardo Ruiz Zambrano
25. C-135/08 Janko Rottman p. Bawarii
26. C-300/11 ZZ p. Secretary of State
27. C-293/12 Digital Rights Ireland (23-72)
28. 22-70 Komisja p. Rada (sprawa ERTA)
29. 104/81 Urząd Skarbowy Mainz p. Kupferberg
30. Polish Constitutional Tribunal Judgement of 16.11.2011(SK 45/2009)
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: