Course 2026-2027 a.y.

The course will examine:

- The historical development of the EU, including the most recent crises 

- The Institutional structure of the EU

- The decision making process of the EU

- The effect of EU law in the national legal systems

- The remedies available for breaches of EU law by Member States

- The effect of EU law on national procedural rules

- The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU

- Union Citizenship

- Free Movement of Goods

- Free Movement of Workers

- Freedom of Establishment 

- Free Movement of Services

- Explain the institutional framework of the EU

- Illustrate the constitutional and legal framework of the EU and the way it interacts with national legal systems

- Describe the main areas of substantive law of the EU (Union citizenship, free movement)

- Illustrate the way the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU applies in the European legal system

- Discern the principal limits and risks of generative AI in legal study, with reference to legal authority and source verification.

- Be able to navigate the case law of the European Court of Justice, identify relevant cases and apply them to relevant facts

- Be able to solve a problem question using case law and relevant legal sources

- Be able to show in-depth analytical and critical understanding of the EU legal system

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Collaborative Works / Assignments
• Interaction/Gamification

The lectures will be complemented by guest seminars in which leading experts in European Union Law will discuss the main crises and challenges faced by the EU.

The teaching will be also complemented by class exercises and discussions and interactive class activities (e.g. student-led case briefings on a group rotation schedule; in-class debate on a contested EU law question; a simulation exercise such as a moot, a mock advocacy or a role-play on previously agreed topics).

For attending students, 75% of the final mark comes from the written exam and 25% continuous assessment component based on the interactive activities run during the course. The written exam aims at assessing the ability to solve a basic problem question using case law and relevant legal sources as well as to verify the understanding of the EU legal system. The exam is closed book (no materials are allowed for reference or consultation during the exam). AI use is prohibited during the written exam.

For not attending students, the written exam is 100% of the mark. AI use is prohibited during the written exam.

Repeating students belonging to the course 50164 — ‘The Law of the EU’ (taught in English) must refer to this programme (cod. 50222, taught in English).

Repeating students belonging to courses 50192, 50043 and 6260 — ‘Diritto dell’Unione Europea’ (in Italian) must refer to this programme in English. The text of the exam will only be given in English, but students can choose to answer the questions in Italian.

Through the exam students will be show understanding of: the institutional framework of the EU;the constitutional and legal framework of the EU and the way it interacts with national legal systems; the main areas of substantive law of the EU (Union citizenship, free movement);the way the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU applies in the European legal system.

The textbook will be communicated by the end of the summer. 

Case law of the Court of Justice of the EU, available on www.curia.europa.eu

Use of web resources 

Slides available on blackboard

Articles published in specialist journals