The Legal dimensions of Europe
Seminar answers
Week 1 - Seminar 1
How to work with the Treaty Texts
Exercise 1
Which Treaties are in your Basic Treaties Book?
The treaty on the functioning of the European Union
The treaty of Lisbon
Charter of the fundamental rights of the EU
Treaty on European Union
TFEU is more extensive and larger than the TEU. TFEU contains al the details of how the EU functions.
Which institutions do what and what kind of policies they have?
TEU contains the general ideas of the UNION, General ideas and principles.
Protocol tiny treaty which is connected to the main treaty. We are going to learn the basic principles.
Proportionality and subsidiarity. These protocols are on those principles. Know where to find they in
the book so you don’t have to learn them. Explain the basic principle of proportionality.
Exercise 2
Browse through the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU). What is the correct order in the
TFEU? From big to small.
A part, title, article, chapter
B part, title, chapter, paragraph, article
C part, title, chapter, article, paragraph
Exercise 3
Turn to page 32. Article 38 TFEU shows between brackets (ex Article TEC). What does the number
between brackets mean?
It states the article in the Treaty establishing the European Community that has to do with the article
from the TFEU. It has to do with case law and jurisprudence. If we want to understand the case law
from then we need to know what the articles were then. Now it is article 38 but back than it was 32. -
It is important to know the old articles and the cases on it and how it was interpreted.
How to reference to an article on your exam Art. 28 (2) (a) TFEU
Exercise 4
Carlos is a Spanish national, who lives in Scheveningen. He would like to stand as a candidate for the
local party ‘Politieke Partij Scheveningen’ during the Local Council Elections. The chair of the party
informed Carlos, that unfortunately he could not put Carlos’s name on the candidate’s list because
he does not have the Dutch nationality. Is the assumption of the Chair, correct? Please motivate your
answer based on the TFEU.
, The Legal dimensions of Europe
Seminar answers
According to Art. 22(1) TFEU and art. 20(2) (B) TFEU, it states that every EU citizen can stand as a
candidate.
Exercise 5
Miss Theroux, a French national, who works for ‘France Telecom’ as a telecommunications specialist.
After some thorough investigations she discovers that her salary and that of her other female
colleagues is some 10% lower than that of the male co-workers doing the same work. Miss Theroux
has some knowledge of EU law and is convinced this is violating basic rules. Give Miss Theroux your
advice in this case, based on the TFEU.
Miss Theroux is right. According to art (157) (1) (2) TFEU there is a clear right to equal pay. She should
go to the court in France. A member state not respecting the rules of the EU. Therefore, the country
should solve it. This is called direct effect.
General court and court of justice of the EU.
Exercise 6
Where in the TFEU can you find the article that allows the European Commission to propose
environmental legislation (the legal basis for environmental legislation)?
Art. 191 JO 192 TFEU EU has the power to make all kinds of laws.
Exercise 7
Where in the TFEU can you find the Treaty article on the ordinary legislative decision-making
procedure?
Art. 289 (1) JO 294 TFEU
Exercise 8
Where in the TEU and TFEU can you find the articles that list the powers and tasks of the Court of
Justice of the European Union?
Art.251(5) TFEU jo 19TEU
Exercise 9
Please read art 101 TFEU. A large Dutch firm together with an Italian and German company in
construction materials decides to fix their selling prices for concrete. Is this allowed under European
Union law?
Art 101 (1) (a) states that it is prohibited to fix prices. Anti-cartel article. EU tries to expose these
cartels
Seminar answers
Week 1 - Seminar 1
How to work with the Treaty Texts
Exercise 1
Which Treaties are in your Basic Treaties Book?
The treaty on the functioning of the European Union
The treaty of Lisbon
Charter of the fundamental rights of the EU
Treaty on European Union
TFEU is more extensive and larger than the TEU. TFEU contains al the details of how the EU functions.
Which institutions do what and what kind of policies they have?
TEU contains the general ideas of the UNION, General ideas and principles.
Protocol tiny treaty which is connected to the main treaty. We are going to learn the basic principles.
Proportionality and subsidiarity. These protocols are on those principles. Know where to find they in
the book so you don’t have to learn them. Explain the basic principle of proportionality.
Exercise 2
Browse through the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU). What is the correct order in the
TFEU? From big to small.
A part, title, article, chapter
B part, title, chapter, paragraph, article
C part, title, chapter, article, paragraph
Exercise 3
Turn to page 32. Article 38 TFEU shows between brackets (ex Article TEC). What does the number
between brackets mean?
It states the article in the Treaty establishing the European Community that has to do with the article
from the TFEU. It has to do with case law and jurisprudence. If we want to understand the case law
from then we need to know what the articles were then. Now it is article 38 but back than it was 32. -
It is important to know the old articles and the cases on it and how it was interpreted.
How to reference to an article on your exam Art. 28 (2) (a) TFEU
Exercise 4
Carlos is a Spanish national, who lives in Scheveningen. He would like to stand as a candidate for the
local party ‘Politieke Partij Scheveningen’ during the Local Council Elections. The chair of the party
informed Carlos, that unfortunately he could not put Carlos’s name on the candidate’s list because
he does not have the Dutch nationality. Is the assumption of the Chair, correct? Please motivate your
answer based on the TFEU.
, The Legal dimensions of Europe
Seminar answers
According to Art. 22(1) TFEU and art. 20(2) (B) TFEU, it states that every EU citizen can stand as a
candidate.
Exercise 5
Miss Theroux, a French national, who works for ‘France Telecom’ as a telecommunications specialist.
After some thorough investigations she discovers that her salary and that of her other female
colleagues is some 10% lower than that of the male co-workers doing the same work. Miss Theroux
has some knowledge of EU law and is convinced this is violating basic rules. Give Miss Theroux your
advice in this case, based on the TFEU.
Miss Theroux is right. According to art (157) (1) (2) TFEU there is a clear right to equal pay. She should
go to the court in France. A member state not respecting the rules of the EU. Therefore, the country
should solve it. This is called direct effect.
General court and court of justice of the EU.
Exercise 6
Where in the TFEU can you find the article that allows the European Commission to propose
environmental legislation (the legal basis for environmental legislation)?
Art. 191 JO 192 TFEU EU has the power to make all kinds of laws.
Exercise 7
Where in the TFEU can you find the Treaty article on the ordinary legislative decision-making
procedure?
Art. 289 (1) JO 294 TFEU
Exercise 8
Where in the TEU and TFEU can you find the articles that list the powers and tasks of the Court of
Justice of the European Union?
Art.251(5) TFEU jo 19TEU
Exercise 9
Please read art 101 TFEU. A large Dutch firm together with an Italian and German company in
construction materials decides to fix their selling prices for concrete. Is this allowed under European
Union law?
Art 101 (1) (a) states that it is prohibited to fix prices. Anti-cartel article. EU tries to expose these
cartels
