European Law
Inhoudsopgave
Study material: ............................................................................................................................. 1
Chapter 1: The Foundation of EU Law ............................................................................................. 1
I. European integration: objective, principles and values ..................................................................... 1
A set of values: common to the MS + foundations of the EU ............................................................ 1
II. A unique form of regional integration .............................................................................................. 3
Forms of economic integration ...................................................................................................... 3
EU= a broader political project ...................................................................................................... 4
Current objectives of TEU? ............................................................................................................ 4
Regional organizations .................................................................................................................. 5
Tools (art 13 TEU) ® order: by degree of democratic accountability ................................................ 6
III. Evolution ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Towards the European economic community (EEC) and other communities .................................... 8
From the EEC to the European community (EC) within the European Union (EU) ............................. 9
Maastricht treaty 1992 ................................................................................................................ 14
Amsterdam treaty 1997 (context)................................................................................................. 15
Amsterdam treaty 1997 (changes) ............................................................................................... 15
Nice treaty 2001 ......................................................................................................................... 16
Nice charter 2000 ....................................................................................................................... 17
‘Constitutional treaty’? 2004 ....................................................................................................... 17
Treaty of Lisbon 2007 .................................................................................................................. 18
Challenges since Lisbon ............................................................................................................. 19
IV. The primary legal framework ....................................................................................................... 21
DiYerentiated integration within the EU treaties ........................................................................... 25
Other forms of diYerentiated integration ...................................................................................... 26
The ordinary treaty revision procedure (art 48 (2-5) TEU) .............................................................. 26
The simplified treaty revision procedures ..................................................................................... 27
The general passarelle clause (art 48 (7) TEU)............................................................................. 27
Treaty revision procedures beyond art 48 TEU .............................................................................. 27
Chapter 2: The Actors of the European Union’s Integration Process ............................................... 28
I. Member states= key players ......................................................................................................... 28
Member states accession ........................................................................................................... 28
Accession process – main stages ................................................................................................ 29
Withdrawal................................................................................................................................. 29
Art 50 triggered once: Brexit ........................................................................................................ 30
II. EU citizens .................................................................................................................................. 30
Institutional role of citizens and national parliaments ................................................................... 31
Political and administrative rights ................................................................................................ 31
European Citizen’s Initiative ........................................................................................................ 31
Right to non-discrimination and free movement ........................................................................... 32
I
,III. Institutions ................................................................................................................................ 33
Guiding principles ...................................................................................................................... 33
1. The European Parliament .................................................................................................. 33
The European Parliament: Composition ....................................................................................... 34
The European Parliament: Members ............................................................................................ 35
The European Parliament: Functioning, organisation and governing structure ................................ 36
The European Parliament: Work allocation................................................................................... 36
The European Parliament: Voting arrangements ........................................................................... 38
The European Parliament: Functions and powers ......................................................................... 38
The European Parliament: Sessions, set and places of work ......................................................... 40
2. The European Council ....................................................................................................... 40
The European Council: Composition ........................................................................................... 41
The European Council: Functioning & organisation ....................................................................... 42
The European Council: Decision making ...................................................................................... 42
The European Council: Functions and powers.............................................................................. 42
The European Council: Relationship to Euro Summits .................................................................. 45
3. The Council ............................................................................................................................ 45
The Council: Composition and internal organisation .................................................................... 45
The Council: Rotating presidency ................................................................................................ 46
The Council: Preparatory work..................................................................................................... 48
The Council: Decision-making..................................................................................................... 49
The Council: Meetings, votes and transparency ............................................................................ 50
The Council: Functions and powers ............................................................................................. 50
The Council: Seat and places of work .......................................................................................... 51
The Council: Relationship with Euro group ................................................................................... 51
4. The Commission ..................................................................................................................... 51
The Commission: Composition and members ............................................................................. 51
The Commission: Designation ..................................................................................................... 52
The Commission: End of mandate ............................................................................................... 53
The Commission: Decision-making ............................................................................................. 54
The Commission: Functioning and organisation ........................................................................... 54
The Commission: Functions and powers ..................................................................................... 55
The Commission: Seat ................................................................................................................ 55
5. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign ARairs and Security Policy ............................... 55
The European External Actions Service (EEAS) ............................................................................. 56
6. The Court of Justice of the European Union............................................................................... 56
The Court of Justice of the EU: Members ...................................................................................... 57
The Court of Justice of the EU: International organisation ............................................................. 58
The Court of Justice of the EU: Decision-making and rulings ......................................................... 59
The Court of Justice of the EU: Jurisdiction ................................................................................... 59
The Court of Justice of the EU: Jurisdiction and seat ..................................................................... 61
Guest lecture Koen Lenaerts ....................................................................................................... 62
7. The Central Bank .................................................................................................................... 64
8. The Court of Auditors .............................................................................................................. 65
IV. looking beyond institutions ......................................................................................................... 65
Advisory bodies .......................................................................................................................... 65
II
, EU Agencies ............................................................................................................................... 65
Other entities ............................................................................................................................. 66
Chapter 3: The EU system of Legal Norms ..................................................................................... 67
I. The primary legal framework ......................................................................................................... 67
The treaties & the modes of action of EU law ................................................................................ 67
The treaties & the other norms of primary law .............................................................................. 67
The protection of fundamental rights ........................................................................................... 69
II. The existence of an EU competence ............................................................................................. 69
The principle of conferral ............................................................................................................ 69
Legal basis ................................................................................................................................. 70
Article 114(1) TFEU- horizontal legal basis(tobacco advertising) ................................................... 71
Implied powers ........................................................................................................................... 73
Article 352 TFEU = flexibility clause ............................................................................................. 74
Delegations of powers ................................................................................................................ 75
III. The types of competences .......................................................................................................... 75
1. Exclusive competences of the EU ........................................................................................ 75
2. Support, coordination or supplement competences of the EU .............................................. 75
3. Shared competences .......................................................................................................... 76
4. Specific categories ............................................................................................................. 76
IV. Principles governing the exercise of an EU competence ................................................................ 76
The exercise of an EU competence .............................................................................................. 76
V. Sources of law derived from the EU treaties .................................................................................. 79
Hierarchy of norms ..................................................................................................................... 79
Other modes of action ................................................................................................................ 83
VI. Procedures for the adoption of EU acts ....................................................................................... 83
Internal acts (secondary law) ...................................................................................................... 85
Internal acts (tertiary law) ........................................................................................................... 88
External acts .............................................................................................................................. 89
Chapter 4: The Unique Nature of the EU Legal Order...................................................................... 90
I. An ‘integrated’ legal order ........................................................................................................ 90
Primacy of EU law ....................................................................................................................... 90
Direct eYect of EU law ................................................................................................................ 93
National procedural autonomy at the service of the EU legal order ................................................ 96
II. Centralised components of the EU’s decentralised enforcement machinery .............................. 97
Infringement actions................................................................................................................... 97
Preliminary ruling procedures ..................................................................................................... 98
III. The EU is subject to the rule of law ........................................................................................... 99
Action for annulment .................................................................................................................. 99
Action for failure to act ...............................................................................................................102
Indirect challenges to the validity of EU acts ...............................................................................103
Non-contractual liability in damages ..........................................................................................103
IV. European integration is a process....................................................................................... 104
Legal design of the EMU, the AFSJ and the CFSP..........................................................................104
III
, Guest lecture: Omzetting, inbreuken en zaken voor het Hof van Justitie van de EU (FOD buitenlandse
zaken) ....................................................................................................................................... 104
Introductie ................................................................................................................................... 104
Situering binnen FOD buitenlandse zaken ...................................................................................... 104
Omzetting en inbreuken ................................................................................................................ 105
Europese commissie .................................................................................................................105
Soorten inbreuken op het EU recht .............................................................................................105
Fases ........................................................................................................................................105
Stand van zaken BE....................................................................................................................106
CASUS: work-life balance-richtlijn ..............................................................................................106
Verdediging van BE voor het HvJ EU................................................................................................ 106
Waarom bestaat een dienst zoals J2? .........................................................................................106
Verschillende procedures ..........................................................................................................106
Chronologie van een (directe) zaak ................................................................................................ 107
IV
Inhoudsopgave
Study material: ............................................................................................................................. 1
Chapter 1: The Foundation of EU Law ............................................................................................. 1
I. European integration: objective, principles and values ..................................................................... 1
A set of values: common to the MS + foundations of the EU ............................................................ 1
II. A unique form of regional integration .............................................................................................. 3
Forms of economic integration ...................................................................................................... 3
EU= a broader political project ...................................................................................................... 4
Current objectives of TEU? ............................................................................................................ 4
Regional organizations .................................................................................................................. 5
Tools (art 13 TEU) ® order: by degree of democratic accountability ................................................ 6
III. Evolution ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Towards the European economic community (EEC) and other communities .................................... 8
From the EEC to the European community (EC) within the European Union (EU) ............................. 9
Maastricht treaty 1992 ................................................................................................................ 14
Amsterdam treaty 1997 (context)................................................................................................. 15
Amsterdam treaty 1997 (changes) ............................................................................................... 15
Nice treaty 2001 ......................................................................................................................... 16
Nice charter 2000 ....................................................................................................................... 17
‘Constitutional treaty’? 2004 ....................................................................................................... 17
Treaty of Lisbon 2007 .................................................................................................................. 18
Challenges since Lisbon ............................................................................................................. 19
IV. The primary legal framework ....................................................................................................... 21
DiYerentiated integration within the EU treaties ........................................................................... 25
Other forms of diYerentiated integration ...................................................................................... 26
The ordinary treaty revision procedure (art 48 (2-5) TEU) .............................................................. 26
The simplified treaty revision procedures ..................................................................................... 27
The general passarelle clause (art 48 (7) TEU)............................................................................. 27
Treaty revision procedures beyond art 48 TEU .............................................................................. 27
Chapter 2: The Actors of the European Union’s Integration Process ............................................... 28
I. Member states= key players ......................................................................................................... 28
Member states accession ........................................................................................................... 28
Accession process – main stages ................................................................................................ 29
Withdrawal................................................................................................................................. 29
Art 50 triggered once: Brexit ........................................................................................................ 30
II. EU citizens .................................................................................................................................. 30
Institutional role of citizens and national parliaments ................................................................... 31
Political and administrative rights ................................................................................................ 31
European Citizen’s Initiative ........................................................................................................ 31
Right to non-discrimination and free movement ........................................................................... 32
I
,III. Institutions ................................................................................................................................ 33
Guiding principles ...................................................................................................................... 33
1. The European Parliament .................................................................................................. 33
The European Parliament: Composition ....................................................................................... 34
The European Parliament: Members ............................................................................................ 35
The European Parliament: Functioning, organisation and governing structure ................................ 36
The European Parliament: Work allocation................................................................................... 36
The European Parliament: Voting arrangements ........................................................................... 38
The European Parliament: Functions and powers ......................................................................... 38
The European Parliament: Sessions, set and places of work ......................................................... 40
2. The European Council ....................................................................................................... 40
The European Council: Composition ........................................................................................... 41
The European Council: Functioning & organisation ....................................................................... 42
The European Council: Decision making ...................................................................................... 42
The European Council: Functions and powers.............................................................................. 42
The European Council: Relationship to Euro Summits .................................................................. 45
3. The Council ............................................................................................................................ 45
The Council: Composition and internal organisation .................................................................... 45
The Council: Rotating presidency ................................................................................................ 46
The Council: Preparatory work..................................................................................................... 48
The Council: Decision-making..................................................................................................... 49
The Council: Meetings, votes and transparency ............................................................................ 50
The Council: Functions and powers ............................................................................................. 50
The Council: Seat and places of work .......................................................................................... 51
The Council: Relationship with Euro group ................................................................................... 51
4. The Commission ..................................................................................................................... 51
The Commission: Composition and members ............................................................................. 51
The Commission: Designation ..................................................................................................... 52
The Commission: End of mandate ............................................................................................... 53
The Commission: Decision-making ............................................................................................. 54
The Commission: Functioning and organisation ........................................................................... 54
The Commission: Functions and powers ..................................................................................... 55
The Commission: Seat ................................................................................................................ 55
5. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign ARairs and Security Policy ............................... 55
The European External Actions Service (EEAS) ............................................................................. 56
6. The Court of Justice of the European Union............................................................................... 56
The Court of Justice of the EU: Members ...................................................................................... 57
The Court of Justice of the EU: International organisation ............................................................. 58
The Court of Justice of the EU: Decision-making and rulings ......................................................... 59
The Court of Justice of the EU: Jurisdiction ................................................................................... 59
The Court of Justice of the EU: Jurisdiction and seat ..................................................................... 61
Guest lecture Koen Lenaerts ....................................................................................................... 62
7. The Central Bank .................................................................................................................... 64
8. The Court of Auditors .............................................................................................................. 65
IV. looking beyond institutions ......................................................................................................... 65
Advisory bodies .......................................................................................................................... 65
II
, EU Agencies ............................................................................................................................... 65
Other entities ............................................................................................................................. 66
Chapter 3: The EU system of Legal Norms ..................................................................................... 67
I. The primary legal framework ......................................................................................................... 67
The treaties & the modes of action of EU law ................................................................................ 67
The treaties & the other norms of primary law .............................................................................. 67
The protection of fundamental rights ........................................................................................... 69
II. The existence of an EU competence ............................................................................................. 69
The principle of conferral ............................................................................................................ 69
Legal basis ................................................................................................................................. 70
Article 114(1) TFEU- horizontal legal basis(tobacco advertising) ................................................... 71
Implied powers ........................................................................................................................... 73
Article 352 TFEU = flexibility clause ............................................................................................. 74
Delegations of powers ................................................................................................................ 75
III. The types of competences .......................................................................................................... 75
1. Exclusive competences of the EU ........................................................................................ 75
2. Support, coordination or supplement competences of the EU .............................................. 75
3. Shared competences .......................................................................................................... 76
4. Specific categories ............................................................................................................. 76
IV. Principles governing the exercise of an EU competence ................................................................ 76
The exercise of an EU competence .............................................................................................. 76
V. Sources of law derived from the EU treaties .................................................................................. 79
Hierarchy of norms ..................................................................................................................... 79
Other modes of action ................................................................................................................ 83
VI. Procedures for the adoption of EU acts ....................................................................................... 83
Internal acts (secondary law) ...................................................................................................... 85
Internal acts (tertiary law) ........................................................................................................... 88
External acts .............................................................................................................................. 89
Chapter 4: The Unique Nature of the EU Legal Order...................................................................... 90
I. An ‘integrated’ legal order ........................................................................................................ 90
Primacy of EU law ....................................................................................................................... 90
Direct eYect of EU law ................................................................................................................ 93
National procedural autonomy at the service of the EU legal order ................................................ 96
II. Centralised components of the EU’s decentralised enforcement machinery .............................. 97
Infringement actions................................................................................................................... 97
Preliminary ruling procedures ..................................................................................................... 98
III. The EU is subject to the rule of law ........................................................................................... 99
Action for annulment .................................................................................................................. 99
Action for failure to act ...............................................................................................................102
Indirect challenges to the validity of EU acts ...............................................................................103
Non-contractual liability in damages ..........................................................................................103
IV. European integration is a process....................................................................................... 104
Legal design of the EMU, the AFSJ and the CFSP..........................................................................104
III
, Guest lecture: Omzetting, inbreuken en zaken voor het Hof van Justitie van de EU (FOD buitenlandse
zaken) ....................................................................................................................................... 104
Introductie ................................................................................................................................... 104
Situering binnen FOD buitenlandse zaken ...................................................................................... 104
Omzetting en inbreuken ................................................................................................................ 105
Europese commissie .................................................................................................................105
Soorten inbreuken op het EU recht .............................................................................................105
Fases ........................................................................................................................................105
Stand van zaken BE....................................................................................................................106
CASUS: work-life balance-richtlijn ..............................................................................................106
Verdediging van BE voor het HvJ EU................................................................................................ 106
Waarom bestaat een dienst zoals J2? .........................................................................................106
Verschillende procedures ..........................................................................................................106
Chronologie van een (directe) zaak ................................................................................................ 107
IV
