Droit des relations extérieures de l'Union Européenne

The course aims to give students an overview of the legal issues raised by the European Union's actions on the international stage, which make up the law of the Union's external relations.

In particular, the course covers the objectives and principles governing the Union's external action, the powers available to the Union, its capacity to conclude international agreements (alone or with the Member States) and the institutional framework of its external relations. Specific areas of the Union's external action will also be studied, such as the promotion of democracy and human rights, its relations with neighbouring countries (enlargement and neighbourhood policy) and the common foreign and security policy. These areas will be chosen in the light of current events. 

By way of example, the subjects covered in 2023-24 were as follows: 
•    The EU as a subject of international law
•    The EU's external competences
•    The actors in the EU's external relations
•    The role of the Member States 
•    The EU and its neighbourhood
•    The EU as a commercial player 
•    Persistent tensions and exceptions
 
 

The course on the EU's external relations law will enable students to:

1. master the main principles of the European Union's external action (competences, policies with an external dimension, etc.) and understand the issues at stake;
2. understand the role of the European Union on the international stage;
3. decipher and analyse the case law of the CJEU relating to the EU's external action;
4. apply their knowledge of EU law, such as the principle of conferral of competence, to the EU's external relations.

Required and Corequired knowledge and skills

A basic knowledge of European Union law is required (role of the various institutions, principle of conferral of competences, etc.).

The course is ex cathedra, with time for exchange and discussion with the students, who will be asked to contribute on the basis of the compulsory and recommended readings. Their participation will involve the use of interactive tools such as Wooclap and Padlet.

The possibility to make an optional indiviudal or group presentation will be offered to the students, who may be able to gain one or two additional points to the exam depending on the quality of their presentation. Topics for the optional  presentations will be posted on the Université virtuelle prior the start of the class.

The course content is based on an analysis of the relevant provisions of the European Treaties, key rulings and opinions of the CJEU, and contributions from the relevant academic literature. 

The material provided to students will be in English. They will be available via the course page on the Virtual University: DROI-O608 _ 202425.

Contribution to the teaching profile

The course enables students to perfect their knowledge of European law, in particular by mobilising and deepening the knowledge they acquired in the courses on "European constitutional law" and "Judicial protection in the EU". It also enables them to perfect their knowledge of the European Union by focusing on its activities on the international stage and the legal framework that defines them. 

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Students will be given compulsory readings. Other resources (judgments, articles, podcasts, etc.) will also be made available, as well as a general bibliography on EU external relations law. 

Course notes

• Syllabus
• Université virtuelle

Additional information

The class will be taught and evaluated in English. 

Contacts

Dr. Chloé Brière (chloe.briere@ulb.be)

Campus

Solbosch

Method(s) of evaluation

• Oral examination

Oral examination

The exam will be an oral exam, carried out in English, and its precise arrangements will be communicated at the beginning of the course. 

Past exam questions will be communicated to students. 

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

The mark is made up of the mark obtained in the oral exam.

For the students who made an optional presentation, the mark may include the point(s) obtained with such presentation. 

Language(s) of evaluation

• english