LW3FEU-Foundations of EU Law

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: LW2EUL EU Law
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Frances Hamilton
Email: f.r.hamilton@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module covers the main institutional and constitutional features of the legal system of the EU. It addresses the role – and interaction – of the EU institutions in the lawmaking process, the relationship between EU law and national law and the judicial remedies available to institutions, Member States and private parties. The module provides insights into the core principles of the internal market, citizenship and the role of fundamental rights in the EU legal order. Moreover, the module introduces to contemporary challenges and successes of the EU as a regional and global actor. The module engages with the EU’s relationship with the UK.

Aims:

The module aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of the main institutional and constitutional features of the legal system of the EU. It aims to equip students with knowledge of core principles of the internal market, citizenship and the role of fundamental rights in the EU legal order. Moreover, the module aims to develop an understanding of contemporary challenges and successes of the EU as a regional and global actor, including the EU’s relationship with the UK post-Brexit.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to:

• explain and analyse the evolution of the EU from its single market origins to a more mature polity;


• explain and analyse the institutional and law-making structure of the EU;


• assess critically, the role of democracy and rights in EU governance;


• compare and contrast the various doctrines and procedures for enforcing EU law and provide a critical assessment of these procedures;


• assess critically, the nature of the procedure of judicial review of actions of the EU institutions;


• explain the core ideas of the EU’s single market, citizenship and fundamental rights as unique examples of advanced regional integration;


• explain and assess critically selected contemporary challenges and successes the EU faces as a regional and global actor.

Additional outcomes:

The module also aims to develop, among others, IT, oral presentation and research skills. 

Outline content:

The module will start with an introduction to the history of the EU and to its institutional and law-making structure, including the various sources of EU law. This discussion will be set against a broader theoretical context centred around the concepts of democracy, legitimacy, subsidiarity and the general principles of EU law. The module will also consider the relationship between the EU law and the Member States’ national legal orders and discuss the EU’s relationship with non-Member States (including the UK) . The module introduces to direct and indirect actions that can be brought before the EU Courts. The final part of the module will consist of an analysis of comtemporary issues of EU law.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

There will normally be 2-hour lectures (and, in some weeks, an additional 1-hour lecture) in the Autumn and Spring terms (overall 30 lectures) and three 1-hour tutorials in each of these terms (overall 6 tutorials). The tutorials will involve structured group discussion and may involve the oral presentation of material.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	17	13
Tutorials	3	3
Guided independent study:	80	84
Total hours by term	100	100	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	80
Class test administered by School	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:

2 hours

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Multiple Choice Test 

Formative assessment methods:

1 mock exam answer to be submitted in the Autumn Term (usually after Week 6).

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40%

Reassessment arrangements:
See School Guide (Programme Assessment)

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 14 February 2024