General aspects of EU law I – EU Law for Non-Lawyers – Introduction

Private individuals, professionals of companies and the non-governmental sector, and civil servants (of both Member States and candidate countries) deal with various entities or organs of the EU administration and go through a plethora of EU documents in the accomplishment of their routine professional tasks (legal approximation efforts, participation in EU projects, EU funding, litigation, etc.).

This course aims at providing these professionals with a clear overview of the EU, its structure, regulatory competences and internal procedures. It will also help them navigate through the jungle of various legal acts that are adopted at the EU level and to gain confidence when reading and analysing EU law-related documents. In addition, they will become familiar with different ways of challenging breaches of EU law before the Court of Justice of the EU. This course will provide you with a clear overview of the EU, its structure, regulatory competences and internal procedures. It will also help you navigate through the jungle of various legal acts that are adopted at the EU level and to gain confidence when reading and analysing EU law-related documents. In addition, you will become familiar with different ways of challenging breaches of EU law before the Court of Justice of the EU.

This two-day course will provide you with a concentrated, in-depth introduction into the legal system of the EU and the most important principles governing the enforcement of European Union law.

Module 1. The EU legal system and the relationship between EU law and national law

This module studies the repartition of competences of the EU and Member States in the regulation of policy sectors, analyses in detail the typology of EU legal acts adopted at the EU level, and comments on their respective legal force and their impact on state authorities and individuals. Finally, it evokes the fundamental concepts (primacy, direct effect, state liability, etc.) governing the relations between EU and national law, and their practical consequences on the daily work of national magistrates, law enforcers, members of the legislative authorities, etc.

Module 2. The EU judicial system and enforcement of EU law

This module firstly depicts the organisation of the judicial space in the EU, clarifying the respective role of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) and the national jurisdictions in the enforcement of EU legality. Secondly, it describes the structure and competences of the CJEU. Finally, it provides a detailed and practical account of the various procedures which may be brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union by EU institutions, Member States, and natural and legal persons to contest the legality of EU action to prosecute an alleged breach of EU law by a Member State, or to interrogate the Court about the meaning of an EU law provision.

The course will be delivered online. Each of the two modules of the tutorial features a number of sessions where an EIPA expert will analyse key legal topics illustrated with examples. Participants will be able to interact with experts throughout the day and especially at the various Q&A periods following each respective content session.

Moreover, in order to ensure an enhanced learning outcome for participants, the programme of each of the modules in the course proposes various practical exercises and group discussions, resulting in a high level of dynamism, the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, address practical legal problems, etc.

The course will be delivered online. Each of the two modules of the tutorial features a number of sessions where an EIPA expert will analyse key legal topics illustrated with examples.