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This online 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 online (synchronous training via ZOOM). Each of the three modules of the tutorial feature a number of sessions where an EIPA expert will analyse key legal topics illustrated with examples. Participants will be able to interact with experts through the chat functionality of the ZOOM platform, or 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 online 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 online 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 of the modules, please click Module 1, Module 2 or Module 3. If you are interested in a combination of modules, please register separately for these modules and your invoice will be adjusted in line with the stated registration fees.
This course will help you navigate through the ‘jungle’ of various legal acts that are adopted at the EU level, and you will gain confidence in reading and analysing documents related to EU law. In addition, you will acquire 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.
- 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
Online Course
For this online course we make use of Zoom
Programme Organiser
Ms Stéphanie Gemnig Comodi
Tel: +352 426 230 301
s.gemnig@eipa.eu
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.
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.
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 € 50 for cancellations received within 7 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.
EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 1 week before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed.
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Programme
Module 1 – The EU legal system and the relationship between EU law and national law | |
9.00 | Welcome |
9.15 | 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. Godefroy de Moncuit, Lecturer, EIPA Luxembourg – European Centre for Judges and Lawyers |
10.15 | Q&A session |
10.45 | Break |
11.00 | 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, Lecturer, EIPA Luxembourg – European Centre for Judges and Lawyers |
12.00 | Q&A session |
12.30 | Lunch break |
13.30 | 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. Catherine Warin |
14.30 | Q&A session |
15.00 | Break |
15.15 | Case study: Applying EU law to the resolution of a case brought before a competent national jurisdiction Godefroy de Moncuit |
16.15 | 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. Juan Diego Ramírez-Cárdenas Díaz, Senior Lecturer, EIPA Luxembourg – European Centre for Judges and Lawyers |
10.15 | Q&A session |
10.45 | 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. Juan Diego Ramírez-Cárdenas Díaz |
12.00 | Q&A session |
12.30 | Lunch break |
13.30 | 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. Sabina Lange, Senior Lecturer, EIPA Maastricht |
14.30 | Q&A session |
15.00 | Break |
15.15 | Workshop: Identifying and analysing delegated and implementing acts Sabina Lange |
16.15 | 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. Catherine Warin |
10.15 | Q&A session |
10.45 | 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. Petra Jeney, Senior Lecturer, EIPA Luxembourg – European Centre for Judges and Lawyers |
12.00 | Q&A session |
12.30 | Lunch break |
13.30 | 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. Catherine Warin |
14.30 | Q&A session |
15.00 | Break |
15.15 | Practical exercise: how to read and interpret decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union Catherine Warin |
16.15 | Conclusions/End of Module 3 |