BALV3500 EU Law and Politics Course description

This course discusses the most important legal and political aspects of the European Union (EU). The focus is on its legal foundations, institutional structure and decision-making processes. At the end of the course the student will be able to understand and critically assess core issues arising in the field of EU Law, the development of the EU’s political system, and the main dynamics that characterize the European context. Emphasis is given to the EEA Agreement and to the relationship between Norway and the European Union.

Language of instruction is English.

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After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has knowledge of

• the European Union and the EEA: historical development, theories of European integration, Treaties, etc.
• topics of EU and EEA Law: legal sources, effects of EU legislation in the national systems, the EEA Agreement, free movement of people, etc.
• the functioning of the EU institutional framework: composition and competences of the institutions, legislative procedures, inter-institutional relations and dynamics that characterize the decision-making processes
• topical issues: democracy, relationship between Norway and the EU, current issues in the European context

Skills

The student is able to

• demonstrate understanding of the European integration process
• solve basic legal questions of EU Law independently, identifying and utilizing relevant legal sources
• analyze and illustrate how the institutional structure and decision-making processes of the EU work

General competence

The student is able to

• understand and critically assess core issues in the European context
• use specialized terminology and write on the topics studied
• retrieve legal sources using international databases

The course is based on lectures, group work, assignments, and self-study.

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The exam in the course is an individual school exam over a period of 4 hours.

The candidates can write their answers in English or Norwegian.

The student may use during the exam:

1) dictionary English-foreign language

2) selected parts of relevant legal sources, such as Treaty on European Union (TEU), Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), EEA Agreement, Directive 2004/38/EC, decisions of the EU Court of Justice, decisions of the EFTA Court, etc.

Grade scale A - F

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Diego Praino