European Union Law

In the space of little more than thirty five years, the amalgamation best known as the European Economic Community, now the European Union, has achieved extraordinary results in legal and economic integration. Although initially primarily designed to achieve economic ends, the E.U. has also taken on political. Social, and cultural dimensions. It is now actively involved in fields such as environmental. Consumer and investor protection, occupational safety, cultural and linguistic protection, research and development, gender and sex equality, and education. The E.U. has become the largest rrading partner of the U.S. and a significant trading partners for Asian nations. It represents a major site for investment of U.S. firms and has experienced a significant increase in interest among Asian investors. It has become the source of significant legal developments with some ramifications for U.S. law as well. U.S. lawyers can no longer afford to possess only a limited knowledge of the structure, law making processes and substantive law of the E.U. The course is intended to provide a basic understanding of the E.U., its structure, goals, fields of actions, achievements and aspirations, as well as to lay a foundation for further research.

The course will be taught as a traditional U.S. law school course, using Bermann, Goebel, Davey & Fox, European Community Law, as well as a documents supplement containing most of the relevant treaties and statutory law used in the course. Students will first learn about the legal and institutional framework of the E.U. Particular attention will be paid to acquiring an understanding of the institutions of the E.U., its legislative processes, the nature of judicial review, the reception of Community law in the Member States, and the mechanisms available for the enforcement of E.U. law. Students will then devote a substantial amount of time to a study of the core substantive provisions of the E.U. C the Afour freedoms@ (free movement of people, goods, services and capital), and the creation of an internal market. Time permitting, additional topics of study may include one or more of the following: (I) competition policy; (ii) external relations; (iii) agricultural policy; (iv)environmental and consumer protection; (v) social policy; (vi) equal rights law; or (vii) economic and monetary coordination. Syllabus

Spring 1998 Exam, Fall 1997 Exam, Spring 1996 Exam, Fall 1996 Exam