JUR1441 – EU External Relations Law
Course description
Course content
The course introduces students to several legal aspects of the EU action on the global stage, as envisaged in EU primary law, and as interpreted by the European Court of Justice. It envisages the actors, principles, rules and processes of the EU interactions with third states and international organisations.
In particular, it deciphers the ways in which external competence (ie the authority to act) is distributed between EU institutions and Member States, and how (far) EU external competence can be exercised. It also looks at the methodology which the European Court of Justice has developed to help the EU secure a coherent external action, despite the multiplicity of actors involved, and the different procedural arrangements at play.
During the course, we will analyse specific policy areas of EU external activity, such as trade, foreign policy and security. We will also discuss how the EU and its Member States have developed specific forms of cooperation with neighbouring countries like Norway, which involve a degree of participation in the development of EU domestic rules. Students should therefore better understand what type of international actor the EU is in substantive and institutional terms.
Finally, the course will examine the effects of international agreements concluded by the EU, such as the Agreement on the European Economic Area, within the EU legal order. For instance, we will examine how Norway’s agreements with the EU may be invoked before Courts in the EU, to secure the effectiveness of the rules and rights set out by these agreements.
Basic knowledge of EU Law is useful, but not necessary, before taking this course.
Learning outcome
Students will be familiarized with the legal rules and principles governing the EU external action, as foreseen in the EU founding Treaties, as applied by EU institutions and Member States, and as interpreted by the European Court of Justice.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes or individual courses at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for by registering a study plan in StudentWeb.
International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information
about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
Nordic applicants that are accepted to study programmes or individual courses at UiO can be admitted to this course.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
Please note that lectures and curriculum for this course is aimed at students at master degree level.
However, the achievement requirements are adjusted for students who take the subject at bachelor degree level.
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with JUS5441 – EU External Relations Law
Teaching
Lectures/seminars.
Language of teaching for this course is English. This means that all
communication during lectures/seminars will be in English, and all
literature and auxiliary materials are in English.
Examination
4 hour home exam
Examination support material
This is an open book exam. Candidates may therefore make use of all available sources during the examination period.
Your exam paper must be an independent work. Exam candidates are not permitted to communicate with other persons about the exam question(s) or distribute draft answers or exam answers.
General rules on exam support materials
Use of sources and rules for citing
Familiarize yourself with the use of sources and citations in legal writing. In an exam situation, using other people’s material without declaring it in a clear manner may be considered cheating or an attempt at cheating. You must cite any sources you draw on.
If you break the rules, you may be suspected of cheating or attempted cheating.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Marking criteria for written examination
This guide is used by examiners for grading elective courses at the Faculty of Law.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Resitting an examination.
- There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take this exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Other
The language for this course is English. Students enrolled in the Masterprogrammet i rettsvitenskap must pass one English subject as part of their degree, this course will meet these obligations.
This subject is taught at Bachelor's level. The subject is also taught at Master's level (10 ECTS credits), see JUS5441 – EU External Relations Law. Please see the chapter above, regarding overlap. For instances of overlap, credits will be deducted on the subject at Bachelors's Level.