Content

I. INTRODUCTION

 

SECTION 1: CREATION AND EVOLUTION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Background. The Schuman Plan and the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The Treaties establishing the EEC and the EAEC and its amendments. The Single European Act. The Treaty on European Union. The Treaty of Amsterdam. The Treaty of Nice. The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. The Treaty of Lisbon. The enlargement of the members. The withdrawal.

 

SECTION 2: THE EUROPEAN UNION: JURIDICAL NATURE AND REGULATION IN FORCE

The Treaty on European Union. The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The legal personality of the Union.

 

SECTION 3: OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

The values of the Union. The objectives of the Union. The main policies. The fundamental principles: (a) the principle of democracy and respect for human rights, (b) respect for the national identity of the Member States, (c) the principle of solidarity. Flexibility: mechanisms and legal framework.

 

II. THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

 

SECTION 4: INTRODUCTION TO THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

The institutional structure. The principle of institutional balance. The principle of transparency. Headquarters, staff and language regime. Privileges and immunities.

 

SECTION 5:THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL

Composition and functioning. The presidency. Functions.

 

SECTION 6: THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Composition, internal organization and functioning. Special reference to COREPER. Competences. Relations with the European Council.

 

SECTION 7:THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Composition, internal organization and principles. Competences: a) initiative, b) control, c) normative role: execution and delegation.

 

SECTION 8: THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Composition, internal organization and functioning. Competences: a) political control, b) legislative, c) budgetary, d) in external action.

 

SECTION 9: THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

The European Central Bank and the European System of Central Banks. Composition, internal organization and functioning. Competences.

 

SECTION 10: THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

I. The Court of Justice: (a) composition and internal organization, (b) jurisdiction. II. The General Court: (a) organization, (b) jurisdiction and its relationship with the Court of Justice. III. The specialized courts.

 

SECTION 11. EUROPEAN COURT OF AUDITORS

 

Composition. Internal organization and functioning. Competences.

 

SECTION 12. EUROPEAN UNION BODIES

 

European Economic and Social Committee. European Committee of the Regions.  EU Administration by Agencies

 

SECTION 13. EU’S DECISION-MAKING PROCESS: THE INSTITUIONS AT WORK

 I. Ordinary legislative procedure. Special legislative procedures. II specific procedures: A) budgetary procedure, B) procedure for the conclusion of international agreements.

 

SECTION 14. EUROPEAN UNION COMPETENCES

 Basis of the  EU competences: principle of conferral. Legal Basis. Types of competences. Principles governing the exercise of competences: Principle of subsidiarity, principle of proportionality.

 

III. SOURCES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION LEGAL ORDER

SECTION 15. PRIMARY LAW

 Introduction to the sources of EU law. Primary Law: definition, content, features and functions. Scope of application; territorial, personal and temporal. Interpretation rules. Revision of the Treaties. Accession and withdrawal.  

 

SECTION 16. DERIVATIVE LAW

Definition. Features. Binding acts: a) regulations, b) directives, c) decisions. Non-binding acts: recommendations and opinions. Differences between Legislative, Delegated acts and Implementing acts.

 

SECTION 17. THE NON-WRITTEN SOURCES OF EUROPEAN LAW AND EUROPEAN CASE-LAW

Definition and Features General principles of EU law. Decisions and Judgements of Court of Justice (Case-law). Hierarchy of the sources of law

 

III. EUROPEAN LAW AND THE MEMBER STATES’ LEGAL SYSTEMS

 

 SECTION 18. PRINCIPLES GUIDING THE RELATIONS BETWEEN EUROPEAN LAW AND NATIONAL LAW 

Direct applicability. The principle of direct effect of the EU law. The precedence principle: matter of the Fundamental Rights. Principle of Member State liability for breach of European law.

 

 

SECTION 19. LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN LAW

Implementation of the EU law by the EU Institutions and bodies. Implementation of EU laws by national authorities of the member States.  Implementation in geographically compex States: the Spanish situation.

 

IV. LA GARANTÍA JUDICIAL DEL CUMPLIMIENTO DEL DERECHO DELA UNIÓN

JUDICIAL GUARANTEE OF THE EUROPEAN LAW ENFORCEMENT

 SECTION 20. JUDICIAL CONTROL

Functions of the National Courts jurisdiction and European Court jurisdiction. Character of the judicial control of the European Court of Justice and classification criteria. Features of the different proceedings. Proceedings of the Court of Justice and Proceedings of the General Court. Action for annulment. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations.

 

SECTION 21. PRELIMINARY RULINGS

 Nature of references for a preliminary ruling. Features. Procedure. Effects

 

SECTION 22. NATIONAL COURTS AND THE EUROPEAN UNION LAW  

Right to judicial protection and principle of procedural autonomy. Non-application of national rules which arecontrary to European law and the interim protection provided by the national courts.