950150 VU EU Institutions (2024W)

I will deal with the organisational structure of the EU Institutions (with special emphasis on Commission, Council, Parliament and European Council, but also Economic and Social Committee and Committee of Regions) and their respective role in Community law. I will describe in particular the internal working procedures of, and the relations between the Institutions as well as with the Member States. Particular emphasis will be placed on practical aspects of decision shaping and decision making. I will explain the role of lobbying and the relations between lobby groups and the European Institutions. I will also consider topical legal questions.

This course is focused on legal issues and may be sometimes more difficult for those of you without a legal background. However, I shall do my best to explain open questions or unclear issues, but please do ask questions during the course whenever something is unclear! (If you don’t ask, I cannot know what needs further explanation!) You are also invited to raise legal or political questions relating to the subjects presented. However, I will demonstrate the practical relevance of the various legal issues.

I will teach the course in English and I will try to speak as clearly as possible. Please interrupt me when there is a language problem. However, I suppose that you are all fairly fluent in English.