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This three-day course will provide you with a concentrated, in-depth introduction into the legal system of the EU and the most important principles governing the adoption and enforcement of European Union law. Each day comprises an autonomous content module, offering the participants the possibility to follow them all, since they can be taken as a coherent pedagogical sequence, or individually.
Module 1. The EU legal system and the relationship between EU law and national law
This module studies the repartition of competences of the EU and Member States in the regulation of policy sectors, analyses in detail the typology of EU legal acts adopted at the EU level, and comments on their respective legal force and their impact on state authorities and individuals. Finally, it evokes the fundamental concepts (primacy, direct effect, state liability, etc.) governing the relations between EU and national law, and their practical consequences on the daily work of national magistrates, law enforcers, members of the legislative authorities, etc.
Module 2. Decision-making procedures for the adoption of EU law
This module explores the roles and competences of the institutions (European Commission, Council of the EU and the European Parliament) in the preparation and negotiation of legal instruments which will become binding EU law. It also describes in detail the interaction of these three institutions in the formal procedures for the adoption of EU law (legislative procedures and procedures for the adoption of delegated and implementing acts). Finally, it also sheds light on the informal negotiations in the procedures and on the variety of strategies that non-institutional actors (e.g. interest representation, NGOs, professional federations) can resort to in order to present their own interests throughout the procedures.
Module 3. The EU judicial system and enforcement of EU law
This module firstly depicts the organisation of the judicial space in the EU, clarifying the respective role of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) and the national jurisdictions in the enforcement of EU legality. Secondly, it describes the structure and competences of the CJEU. Finally, it provides a detailed and practical account of the various procedures which may be brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union by EU institutions, Member States, and natural and legal persons to contest the legality of EU action to prosecute an alleged breach of EU law by a Member State, or to interrogate the Court about the meaning of an EU law provision.
What will you learn:
Private individuals, professionals of companies and the non-governmental sector, and civil servants (of both Member States and candidate countries) deal with various entities or organs of the EU administration and go through a plethora of EU documents in the accomplishment of their routine professional tasks (legal approximation efforts, participation in EU projects, EU funding, litigation, etc.).
This course aims at providing these professionals with a clear overview of the EU, its structure, regulatory competences and internal procedures. It will also help them navigate through the jungle of various legal acts that are adopted at the EU level and to gain confidence when reading and analysing EU law-related documents. In addition, they will receive a systematised knowledge of the EU decision-making process and become familiar with different ways of challenging breaches of EU law before the Court of Justice of the EU.
Course methodology/highlights:
The course will be delivered in face to face format. Each of the three modules of the tutorial features a number of sessions where an EIPA expert will analyse key legal topics illustrated with examples. Participants will be able to interact with experts throughout the day and especially at the various Q&A periods following each respective content session.
Moreover, in order to ensure an enhanced learning outcome for participants, the programme of each of the modules in the course proposes various practical exercises and group discussions, resulting in a high level of dynamism, the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, address practical legal problems, etc.
The programme of the course is divided into three one-day modules to offer flexibility in adapting the tutorial to individual needs. It is possible to attend the full three-day tutorial or individual day modules.
If you prefer to attend only one or two modules, please click on ‘Book modules’ and select the modules of your choice.
- Public sector employees from Member States and Candidates and pre-Candidates administrations \in charge of, or involved in, the transposition of EU law and in the administrative application of EU legal requirements;
- Elected officials from the above-mentioned entities, holding a political mandate and responsible for conceiving and devising public policy on the basis of EU demands and requirements;
- Civil servant and personnel from EU institutions, offices and agencies
- Personnel from offices in Brussels in charge of the representation and advocacy of professional and territorial interests vis-à-vis EU institutions and in formal and informal negotiation fora
Course venue
European Centre for Judges and Lawyers – EIPA Luxembourg
8 rue Nicolas Adames
1114 Luxembourg
Programme Organiser
Mr Steven van Eckeren
Tel: +352 426 230 303
s.vaneckeren@eipa.eu
Fee
The fee includes documentation, refreshments and lunches. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.
Discounts
EIPA member fee
EIPA offers a discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.
Who are the supporting countries?
Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.
For all other participants, the regular fee applies.
Early bird discount
The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.
Loyalty coupon
As a token of appreciation we offer all our participants a loyalty coupon for one of our future courses. The offer can be shared with colleagues and relevant networks. The coupon will expire one year after its release. This discount is not cumulative with other discounts, except for the EIPA member fee.
Meals
Dietary preferences can be indicated on the registration form.
Hotel reservations
EIPA has special price arrangements with a number of hotels. Most rates are including breakfast and tourist tax. Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please book directly via the links below. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel upon checking out.
Kirchberg
- Hotel Melia*****, at the rate of €219, via tel.: +352 27 33 32 06 or via e-mail: melia.luxembourg@melia.com (booking code: 01350007ZKC)
- Hotel Novotel Kirchberg****, at the rate of €190, tel.: +352 429848-1; booking page: accorhotels.com (Company ID: SC000002048 – Access Code: IN281LU654).
- Hotel D’Coque***, via https://www.coque.lu/coque-hotel-superior/online-booking, tel.: +352 43 60 60 222
Luxembourg Centre
- Hotel Français***, at the rate of €150, tel.: +352 47 45 34; e-mail: info@hotelfrancais.lu; https://www.hotelfrancais.lu/ (Reservation code: EIPA).
- Hotel Parc Plaza****, at the rate of €168, (Reservation code: EIPA0118): https://www.goereshotels.com/parc-plaza-en
- Hotel Parc Bellevue***, at the rate of €137, (Reservation code: EIPA0118): https://www.goereshotels.com/belle-vue-en: +352 44 23 23 23 23; e-mail: reservation@goereshotels.com;
- Hotel Domus***, at the rate of between €144 and €156, tel.: +352 46 78 78 1; fax: +352 46 78 79; e-mail: info@domus.lu; https://www.domus.lu/(Reservation code: EIPA) – breakfast not included
- Hotel Simoncini****, at the rate of €180, tel.: +352 22 28 44; e-mail: simhotel@pt.lu or simoncinihotel@pt.lu; https://www.hotelsimoncini.lu/.
Railway Station Area
- Hotel City****, at the rate of €165, tel.: +352 29 11 22; e-mail: mail@cityhotel.lu; cityhotel.lu (Reservation code: EIPA).
Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.
Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation.
Cancellation policy
For administrative reasons you will be charged €150 for cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants. EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 2 weeks before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, accommodation, etc.).
A few days before the start of the course you will receive the log-in details for accessing the course materials. You can log in here.
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Programme
Module 1 – The EU legal system and the relationship between EU law and national law | |
08.30 | Registration of participants |
09.00 | Welcome and introduction to the seminar |
09.15 | The EU’s institutional and administrative landscape This first session will provide an overview of the organization of the EU administration, its governing principles, constituent entities (institutions, bodies, agencies of the EU) and their interactions with State authorities. Catherine Warin, Lecturer, EIPA Luxembourg – European Centre for Judges and Lawyers |
10.15 | Q&A session |
10.45 | Coffee Break |
11.15 | The European Union’s system of legal instruments: EU law sources This session will present the sources of EU law and various methods for classification of the EU legal instruments: primary vs. secondary law, general principles, legal binding vs. non-binding acts and legislative vs. non-legislative acts. Through this, participants will have an opportunity to understand the respective legal force of each of these instruments and their impact on state authorities and individuals. Catherine Warin |
12.15 | Q&A session |
12.30 | Lunch break |
14.00 | Main characteristics of EU law: The effect/impact of EU law on national legal systems The fundamental legal concepts of primacy – direct and indirect – and the state liability govern the relationship between EU law and the domestic law of the Member States. Their practical application imposes upon state authorities (national magistrates, law enforcers, members of the legislative authorities, etc.) a number of obligations such as the necessity to interpret national law in conformity with EU law, or disapply the national provisions contradicting EU law. Carlos Santalo Goris, Lecturer, European Centre for Judges and Lawyers, EIPA Luxembourg |
15.00 | Q&A session |
15.15 | Break |
15.45 | Case study: Applying EU law to the resolution of a case brought before a competent national jurisdiction Carlos Santalo Goris |
16.30 | Conclusions/End of Module 1 |
Module 2 – Decision-making procedures for the adoption of EU law | |
9.00 | Welcome |
9.15 | EU policy cycle: Powers and roles of EU institutions This presentation will provide an introduction to different stages of the EU policymaking process. The main focus will be on the role of the European Commission at the stage of the preparation of legislative acts as well as on the internal workings of the Council and the European Parliament at the stage of the adoption of these acts. In addition, the interaction between the three institutions will be presented to emphasise their roles and powers in negotiating legislation. Claudio Matera, Senior Lecturer, EIPA Luxembourg – European Centre for Judges and Lawyers |
10.15 | Q&A session |
10.30 | Break |
11.00 | EU procedures for the preparation and adoption of legislative acts This session will deal with the typology of EU legislative procedures: the ordinary and the special legislative procedures. The ordinary procedure, which is the usual one to enact legislation, will be presented in more detail. Participants will also learn more about the negotiation and the interaction between different institutions at the different phases of these procedures. This session will also explain the European Citizens Initiative procedure and comment on the role of national parliaments in the adoption of EU legislation. Claudio Matera |
12.00 | Q&A session |
12.30 | Lunch break |
14.00 | EU procedures for the preparation and adoption of delegated and implementing acts This session will make a clear differentiation between the two types of EU executive acts (delegated and implementing acts) and place them within the system of hierarchy of norms of the EU. It will also illustrate, by means of examples, in which situations it is best to use each of them. Finally, it will comment on the particular decision-making procedures which are followed to adopt delegated and implementing acts, respectively. Panagiotis Zinonos, Lecturer, European Centre for Judges and Lawyers, EIPA Luxembourg |
15.00 | Q&A session |
15.30 | Break |
15.45 | Workshop: Identifying and analysing delegated and implementing acts Panagiotis Zinonos |
17.00 | Conclusions/End of Module 2 |
Module 3 – The EU judicial system and enforcement of EU law | |
09.00 | Welcome |
09.15 | The actors in the EU judicial system: The Court of Justice of the EU, and national courts and tribunals This session will first present the organisational structure of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU): its two jurisdictions (Court of Justice and General Court), then the appointment and duties of judges and advocates general, the competence of the judicial chambers, etc. Finally, the respective and complementary jurisdictional competences of the CJEU, and national courts and tribunals for the enforcement of EU law will be studied. Panagiotis Zinonos |
10.15 | Q&A session |
10.30 | Break |
11.00 | Key proceedings to enforce EU law (I): Annulment actions and the preliminary rulings procedure After enumerating all the proceedings which can be brought before the CJEU, this session will then discuss the actions that natural and legal persons can bring before the CJEU to contest the legality of EU acts which are addressed to them. The session will then analyse how national courts interact and conduct dialogue with the CJEU through the preliminary ruling procedure. Panagiotis Zinonos |
12.00 | Q&A session |
12.30 | Lunch break |
14.00 | Key proceedings to enforce EU law (II): The infringement procedures The Commission initiates an infringement procedure against a Member State whenever it is persuaded that the latter is in breach of its obligations under EU law. This session will provide participants with a commented overview of the phases and the role of the Commission and the Member States in the procedure, and its various potential outcomes such as condemnatory ruling and imposition of economic sanctions. Juan Diego Ramírez-Cárdenas Díaz, Senior Lecturer, EIPA Luxembourg – European Centre for Judges and Lawyers |
15.00 | Q&A session |
15.30 | Break |
15.45 | Practical exercise: how to read and interpret decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union Juan Diego Ramírez-Cárdenas Díaz |
16.45 | Conclusions/End of Module 3 |