University of Galway

Course Module Information

Course Modules

Semester 1 | Credits: 5

The objectives of this module are to provide students with a knowledge of and an appreciation of the institutional and constitutional foundations of the European Union (EU or Union) legal order, and to provide students with the tools necessary to recognise and apply EU Law.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Outline and comment upon the main features in the development of the European Union (Union) with reference to the principal founding and amending treaties and to the theories of integration
  2. Identify the main institutions of the Union and outline their legal basis, broad structure, functions and powers of each
  3. Critically analyse the relationship between the main political institutions of the Union
  4. Outline and evaluate the primary and secondary sources of Union law and the legislative processes by which such law is created
  5. Explain the general principles of Union law. 6. Describe the nature of Union law and its position in the domestic legal order with particular emphasis on the doctrines of supremacy and direct effect
  6. Describe and analyse how Union law is enforced before the Court of Justice of the European Union, with particular reference to the procedures of enforcement actions, annulment actions, preliminary references, and failure to act actions
  7. Apply the principles of Union law to hypothetical situations
Assessments
  • Written Assessment (80%)
  • Continuous Assessment (20%)
Teachers
Reading List
  1. "Paul Craig and Gráinne de Búrca, EU Law: Text, Cases and Materials (6th ed, Oxford 2015)" by n/a
  2. "Catherine Barnard and Steven Peers, European Union Law (2nd Ed OUP 2017)" by n/a
  3. "Damien Chalmers, Gareth Davies and Giorgio Monti, European Union Law: Text and Materials (3rd edn, Cambridge University Press 2014)" by n/a
  4. "John Fairhurst, Law of the European Union (11th edn, Pearson 2016)" by n/a
  5. "Alina Kaczorowska, European Union Law (4th edn, RoutledgeCavendish 2016)" by n/a
  6. "Nigel Foster, EU Law Directions (Oxford University Press 2014)" by n/a
  7. "Lorna Woods and Philippa Watson, Steiner & Woods EU Law (12th edn, Oxford University Press 2014)" by n/a
  8. "Blackstone’s Statutes, EU Legislation 2014-2015 by Nigel Foster (Oxford 2014)" by n/a
The above information outlines module LW427: "European Union Law I" and is valid from 2021 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.