Introduction to International and European Law
Full course description
*** This course is only offered as 'Exam Only' course. There will be no educational activities offered such as tutorials or lectures. Registration for this course is possible within the normal registration window for education. Please consult the Academic Calendar 2023-24 for further information about deadlines and exam periods ***
This course consists of two parts: International law and European law. There will be two tutorials and a combination of a recorded lecture/knowledge clips and plenary session every week. In the first half of the course, we will begin by exploring the nature and foundations of international law. We will then focus on the subjects and sources of international law, jurisdiction and immunities, state responsibility, peaceful settlement of disputes and the use of force. In the second half of the course, we will concentrate on European law, or to be more precise on the law of the European Union / EU law. To some extent, EU law can be considered a special type of international law, although, as we will see, the EU legal order has several unique characteristics. In this part of the course, we will study the main institutions and basic principles of the EU, the EU system of decision-making and judicial protection, and some core EU substantive policy areas.
Assesment methods
Mid-term assignment and final written exam
Course objectives
The objective of this course is to acquire basic knowledge of international and EU law. This knowledge includes: the knowledge and insight that a law student who is not specialised in either international or EU law should have; the knowledge and insight that will enable a student who wishes to specialise in either international or EU law to commence this specialisation; the skill to work with primary sources of international and EU law. Furthermore, student will gain insights into the historical development of international law and of the EU institutional structure, and will become familiar with seminal cases of international and European law, and learn how to find, read and apply them.
Prerequisites
None.
Recommended reading
Textbooks:
- G. Hernández, International Law (2nd ed, OUP 2022)
- R. Schütze, Introduction to European law (3rd ed, OUP 2021)
Case law and Treaties:
- Elementair Internationaal Recht/Elementary International Law (T.M.C. Asser Instituut 2021)
- N. Foster, Blackstone’s EU Treaties & Legislation (33rd ed, OUP2022)