THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Law : Law

Postgraduate Course: EU External Economic Relations Law (LAWS11242)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Law CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe objective of the course is to equip students with the advanced knowledge of the legal and institutional framework governing the external economic relations of the European Union (EU), an area of EU law that has increasingly captured scholarly attention of the last two decades. Students will also gain a critical understanding of the growing and complex role of the EU as an actor in global economic affairs, through an analysis of different substantive policy areas and specific measures.
Course description The course is broadly divided into two parts. The first group of seminars will address the constitutional foundations of the EU as an actor in international relations, examining both the EU treaties and the relevant case law of the European Court of Justice. The topics that will be covered include: the EU as an international actor with attributed powers; the EU and its Member States on the international scene; and the legal status and effect of international agreements in the EU¿s legal order. The second group of seminars will instead consider the legal framework and specific instruments of the EU's external economic relations, starting with the common commercial policy as the oldest and most developed EU external policy, followed by the EU's development cooperation policy as well as the external dimension of the economic and monetary union (EMU). Students will also explore how the EU's external economic policies interact with, and are used to promote the objectives of, other EU policies (such as the common foreign and security policy and environmental policy).
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Whilst there are no pre-requisites students will benefit from having prior knowledge of EU constitutional law and institutions
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. 1. To gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of the legal and institutional framework governing the EU¿s external economic relations, as well as of EU practice in this field;
  2. 2. To acquire an ability to critically assess the role of the EU as an actor in global economic affairs and to consider possible avenues for legal/policy development;
  3. 3. To acquire an ability to critically engage with contemporary legal and policy debates on the EU as an international actor, with a view to reflecting on different approaches and viewpoints on controversial issues;
  4. 4. To further develop the ability to conduct independent research, to identify relevant primary and secondary sources, and to synthesise and evaluate material from a variety of sources (via the course assessment);
  5. 5. To further develop the ability to articulate, sustain and defend a line of argument, in both written and oral form (via the course assessment), as well as to further develop skills of communication, expression and debate (via active seminar participation).
Reading List
- P. Craig & G. de Búrca, EU Law ¿ Text, Cases and Materials (Oxford University Press, 5th edition, 2011), particularly chapters 1-5;
OR
- A. Dashwood & D. Wyatt, European Union Law (Hart, 6th edition 2011), chapters 1-5;
OR
- D. Chalmers & G. Davies, European Union Law ¿ Text and Materials (Cambridge University Press, 3rd edition, 2014), particularly chapters 1-3 and 5.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills 1. Generic cognitive skills: ability to exercise informed and rigorous analysis as well as critical and independent judgement of complex legal/policy issues;

2. Communication/IT skills: ability to express information and arguments in a succinct, coherent and persuasive manner, both orally and in writing (via the course assessment), while remaining open to discuss and learn from other points of view (via active seminar participation). Ability to locate legal and other sources through library and IT resources, as well as to present written work in a appropriate format;

3. Autonomy/accountability: ability to work autonomously in preparing for seminars and completing the course assessment, while seeking advice when appropriate and incorporating feedback received. Ability to manage time and deliver work within externally imposed deadlines.
KeywordsEuropean Union Law,EU in International affairs,EU external economics polices
Contacts
Course organiserDr Gracia Marin-Duran
Tel: (0131 6)50 2008
Email:
Course secretary
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