Course: Constitutional Foundations of the EU

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Course title Constitutional Foundations of the EU
Course code MEP/PÚZEU
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 6
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Šišková Naděžda, doc. et doc. JUDr. Ph.D.
  • Hamuľák Ondrej, JUDr. Ph.D.
  • Stehlík Václav, prof. JUDr. LL.M., Ph.D.
  • Bureš Pavel, JUDr. Ph.D.
Course content
A basic and state-level subject that focuses on the following thematic areas: Historical development, objectives of the Community and the European Union, political context. Basic concepts: European law, community law and Union law, acquis communautaire. Supranational character of the European Union. Institutions: European Commission, Council of the EU, European Council. Composition and powers. Changes in the intentions of the Treaty of Lisbon and its consequences. European Parliament and legislative procedures. Legislative foundations of EU law. New procedures within the framework of the Treaty of Lisbon. Auxiliary and advisory bodies and their role. Sources of European law - primary law, mixed treaties, acts of representatives of the Member States, secondary law, general principles of law, constant case law of the Court of Justice of the EU. Union judiciary - structure, proceedings before the Court of Justice and the General Court, direct actions. Preliminary ruling procedure based on Article 267 TFEU. The nature of EU law and the principles of its application - autonomy of EU law, direct effect and immediate applicability of EU law norms. Directives and their legal effects - direct effect, exclusionary effect, directives in triangular situations. Indirect effect of European Union law and liability for damage caused by a breach of European Union law. Relationship of European Union law to the national law of the Member States - principle of primacy. Protection of human rights at the EU level - EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and its specifics. Problems of judicial enforcement of rights protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. European Union and protection of common European values. Judicial procedure, political procedure ("nuclear option), Rule of law conditionality and other instruments in the light of current developments.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training)
Learning outcomes
The winter semester is dedicated to the questions of beginning and development of the EC, the emphasis is given to supranational character of the EC, organizational structure of the EU, overview of the institutions, division of powers, nature of Community and Union law and its relationship with the national law. Important part of the time is oriented at the actual development and constitutionalisation of the EU. The subject innovation has been supported by the project Support of Interdisciplinary studies and Study Programmes Innovations at Palacký University in Olomouc, CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0091.
Students who have completed this course will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the features of law.
Prerequisites
The completion of this course is not conditioned upon completion of any other courses.

Assessment methods and criteria
Seminar Work

It is essential that those students who would like to get the credit must have attendance at these seminars, they have to complete the tasks assigned by the seminar leader and they must be successful at the written test. The student is required to work with the learning objects, which have been created for the concrete subject and are available for authorized students in LMS EDIS.
Recommended literature
  • Barnard, C., Peers, S. (2023). European Union Law, 4th ed.. Oxford.
  • Craig, P., de Búrca, G. (2020). EU Law: Text, cases and materials, 7th Edition. Oxford.
  • Chalmers, D., Davies, G., Monti, G. (2019). European Union Law, 5th ed.. Cambridge.
  • Stehlík, V., Hamuľák, O., Petr, M. (2016). Praktikum práva Evropské unie. Praha.
  • Stehlík, V., Hamuľák, O., Petr, M. (2017). Právo Evropské unie.. Praha.
  • Steiner, J. et al. (2023). EU Law, 15th ed.. Oxford.
  • Svoboda, P. (2023). Úvod do evropského práva, 7. vyd.. Praha.
  • Šisková, N.(ed.). (2024). Legal Issues of Digitalisation, Robotisation and Cyber Security in the Light of EU Law. Alphen aan den Rijn.
  • Šišková, N. a kol. (2014). From Eastern Partnership to the Association. A legal and political analysis, Cambridge Scholars.
  • Šišková, N., ed. (2018). The European Union ? What is Next? A Legal Analysis and the Political Visions on the Future of the Union. Deutschland.
  • Šišková, N. (2021). Lidskoprávní mechanismy na úrovni EU a otázky související. Praha.
  • Šišková, N. (2021). Rule of Law as an Integral Part of the Common European Values: in European Studies. The Review of European Law, Economics and Politics. 2021/1, vol. 11, pp. 19-40. The Review of European Law, Economics and Politics. 2021/1, vol. 11, pp. 19-40.
  • Šišková, N. (2024). Společné evropské hodnoty a efektivita právních nástrojů pro jejich ochranu. Jurisprudence, 2024/2.
  • Šišková, N. (2019). The EU Concept of the Rule of Law and the Procedures de lege lata and de lege ferenda. International and Comparative Law Review.
  • Tomášek, M., Šmejkal V. a kol. (2022). Smlouva o fungování EU. Listina základních práv EU. Komentář.. Praha.
  • Tomášek, M., Týč, V. a kol. (2021). Právo Evropské unie, 3. vyd.. Praha.
  • Weatherill, S. (2016). Cases and Materials on EU Law, 12th ed.. Oxford.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Law Study plan (Version): European Law and EU Policies (EPAPEU2022) Category: Law, legal and public administration proceeding 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Winter