SUMMARY: LEGAL ENGLISH
Meeting 1: The European Union (EU)
Origin of the EU
Centuries of conflicts and war Germany vs. France
WWI and WW II
Connecting Europe economically, politically, etc. = preventing war
The European- Union
= A supranational political and economic organization bases on a
treaty (of 27 member states that are primarily located in Europe). The EU
aims to promote peace, political/ economic cooperation and well- being its
citizens. Purposes are described in art. 3 TEU. *
Achievements
Free movement of persons under Allows citizens to live, work, study
EU law or travel freely across EU member
states
Free movement of persons The rights to move throughout the
EU without any restrictions.
The EU- internal Market An area without internal borders
where goods, services, capital and
people can move freely, enabling
EU citizens to live, shop, etc.
across member states.
Monetary union
Legal sources of the EU
Primary Law (Founding Law)
Treaties:
(Gentleman’s) agreements between different EU member states in which
they agree on different objections. A treaty is formally signed by
representatives and usually ratified by a lawmaking authority of the state.
, SUMMARY: LEGAL ENGLISH
Main features:
- EU will then operate for these countries to realize these objectives.
- The countries give up a little bit of their individuality to make the EU-
organization.
- Binding in their entirety
- Above national law
Examples:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (1949):
- Collective defense alliance after WW II
- Military cooperation
Treaty of the European Union (TEU):
- Foundational treaty of European Union
- Sets out: core principles, values, roles of EU institutions, rules of law,
etc.
Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU):
- Details how EU operates in practice
- EU policies, competences, decision-making procedures, functioning of
internal market
Meeting 2: European Union law
Official institutions of the European Union (art. 13 TEU)
1. European parliament
= Exist out of representatives from various member states. They act
as a legislative branch, voting bills and determining further steps of
other EU- institutions, such as the European council. They are a
controlling organ of the EU and control the legislature of the EU-
council and the EU- commission. Parliament has the right to institute
proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in
cases of violation of the Treaty by another institution.
2. Council of ministers
Meeting 1: The European Union (EU)
Origin of the EU
Centuries of conflicts and war Germany vs. France
WWI and WW II
Connecting Europe economically, politically, etc. = preventing war
The European- Union
= A supranational political and economic organization bases on a
treaty (of 27 member states that are primarily located in Europe). The EU
aims to promote peace, political/ economic cooperation and well- being its
citizens. Purposes are described in art. 3 TEU. *
Achievements
Free movement of persons under Allows citizens to live, work, study
EU law or travel freely across EU member
states
Free movement of persons The rights to move throughout the
EU without any restrictions.
The EU- internal Market An area without internal borders
where goods, services, capital and
people can move freely, enabling
EU citizens to live, shop, etc.
across member states.
Monetary union
Legal sources of the EU
Primary Law (Founding Law)
Treaties:
(Gentleman’s) agreements between different EU member states in which
they agree on different objections. A treaty is formally signed by
representatives and usually ratified by a lawmaking authority of the state.
, SUMMARY: LEGAL ENGLISH
Main features:
- EU will then operate for these countries to realize these objectives.
- The countries give up a little bit of their individuality to make the EU-
organization.
- Binding in their entirety
- Above national law
Examples:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (1949):
- Collective defense alliance after WW II
- Military cooperation
Treaty of the European Union (TEU):
- Foundational treaty of European Union
- Sets out: core principles, values, roles of EU institutions, rules of law,
etc.
Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU):
- Details how EU operates in practice
- EU policies, competences, decision-making procedures, functioning of
internal market
Meeting 2: European Union law
Official institutions of the European Union (art. 13 TEU)
1. European parliament
= Exist out of representatives from various member states. They act
as a legislative branch, voting bills and determining further steps of
other EU- institutions, such as the European council. They are a
controlling organ of the EU and control the legislature of the EU-
council and the EU- commission. Parliament has the right to institute
proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in
cases of violation of the Treaty by another institution.
2. Council of ministers
