The unit examines the constitutional and institutional aspects of the European Union. It considers
The above areas are examined in their wider political and legal context, with reference to current affairs and visits from decision-makers and influential figures who have shaped the development of EU law.
The unit examines the legal foundations of the Single European Market; in doing so, it builds on the second-year Law and Policy of the EU I. It examines how EU constitutional principles are applied in practice areas of topical significance. The course focuses on the law governing free movement of goods, persons, and services and examines the various ways in which EU law affects everyday life of citizens and traders. These areas touch upon questions of relevance to everyday life, such as:
The unit examines the law and policy which regulates the way in which firms compete in the free market economy. This covers, for example, the circumstances in which firms can be prevented from merging, the detection and investigation of cartels (price-fixing and market-rigging arrangements between competitors), the control of firms with substantial market power (such as whether Microsoft should be forced to supply information to competitors to enable them to make compatible products) and, in the UK, the investigation of markets which may not be working well (such as the current investigation into the supermarkets). Competition Law is an exciting, fast-moving subject which impacts upon a very wide range of commercial and business activities. The unit covers both UK and EC competition law and also looks at competition law internationally.
This unit considers the European Convention on Human Rights, and the associated case law, in the context of wider debates about the nature of human rights. Topics include: origins of the human right ideal; structure of the ECHR; general issues in the nature and interpretation of human rights; and the following Articles: Article 2 - Life; Article 3 - Torture; Article 5 - Liberty; Article 6 - Fair Trial; Article 8 - Private Life; Article 9 - Religion; Article 10 - Expression; Article 14 - Equality; and Article 15 - derogation.