Course Catalogue

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The European Union (EU) is not a state but a global actor with an advanced internal system of regional economic and political integration. The EU has established an important international network with other states and international organisations, and it is seen as (potentially very) influential - being an important trading power, donor of development aid and humanitarian assistance. The course provides an overview of the current constitutional and institutional framework of EU external action, and focuses on selected policy areas (eg trade, foreign and security policy) for further legal analysis of the EU as a global actor. Class discussion and written work give students the opportunity to engage with a variety of legal issues regarding the EU as a global actor, including its interaction with the Member States as well as other subjects of the international (legal) order. The module is specifically designed to complement other European and international law courses, but it should also be of interest to those students who like to deepen their understanding of the EU as a global actor and important neighbour and trading partner of the UK post Brexit.

10 weekly 2 hour seminars

This course is only available to LLB students.

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1,250-word essay (20%) and 48-hour 'take home' examination (80%).  

Knowledge based

■ To provide a clear foundation for in-depth legal analysis of the European Union as a global actor;

■ To provide an understanding and critical insight into the development of EU external relations law at the intersection of EU and international law;

■ To explore and analyse EU external relations law in its political context; and

■ To enable students with a background in EU constitutional and institutional law to relate their knowledge to the external dimension of EU activities, while encouraging students new to the field to analyse the political and legal framework in which EU Member States and/or EU institutions interact on the global stage with third states and other subjects of the international (legal) order.

Skills based

■ To foster and develop transferable skills, including effective oral and written communication;

■ To encourage independent legal research and responsibility for one's own learning; 

■ To develop skills needed to explore and analyse Treaties, legislation, policy documents and case-law;

■ To develop group-work skills.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Identify, apply, analyse and critically evaluate the basics of the constitutional and institutional framework of EU external relations and action; 

■ Analyse contemporary questions of EU external relations law by using knowledge and tools of legal research developed in the preparation of seminars, written assignment and class discussion;

■ Be able to discuss critically some of the key current themes in the development of EU external relations law and policy (eg the interplay of values and policy objectives; the tension between autonomy of the EU legal order, international law and the sovereignty/law of EU Member States).

■ Write critically about the nature and content of EU external relations law;

■ Construct coherent and analytical arguments about the substantive and procedural legal framework in relation to the EU as a global actor.