Internal Market Law and Governance

Full course description

Internal Market Law and Governance is an advanced course in EU law. Building upon the knowledge gained in general courses on EU law, it deals with the free movement of goods on the EU’s internal market and EU law and governance structures; issues that are closely intertwined. The European integration process is ever more challenged with the dilemma of allowing free trade and furthering economic integration and protecting non-trade concerns such as human health and safety and the environment that potentially hinder trade. EU law therefore needs to deal with the question as to how to make sure that on the one hand products can freely circulate on the EU’s internal market and on the other, that these products are not dangerous to human health and safety and the environment. To address this question, European rules often put a focus on science in their attempt to ensure that measures adopted by Member States are inspired by genuine non-trade rather than protectionist motives and intentions. Based on the case law of the European Court of Justice on free movement of goods, this course will discuss the legislative and non-legislative acts issued by the EU institutions and agencies to create and manage the internal market. This course combines both institutional and substantive EU law.