Regional Integration: The Case of the EU

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.

The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:

• The ability to attend a minimum of 75% of classes and actively engage in the analysis and critique of complex materials and debate;
• The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and to critically evaluate these;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
• The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
• The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit: www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The subject tackles one of the most interesting responses to globalisation, namely regional integration. Following an outline of its most prominent structures (e.g. NAFTA, MERCOSUR, ASEAN), it focuses on the deepest and most topical one, that is, the European Union (EU).

It provides an overview of its main constitutional and institutional structure, its main policies and its economic and political role in the world. It examines whether there is a distinct EU approach to regional integration and queries whether this may be transposed in other contexts.

The subject is topical and its approach contextual, as it

• Examines law in its wider political and economic context
• Explores the implications of the current economic and political crisis in Europe
• Places EU law within the increasingly interdependent globalised political and economic order.

The subject is taught by Panos Koutrakos, Professor of EU Law and Jean Monnet Professor of EU Law at the University of Bristol (UK), and joint editor of the European Law Review.

Principal topics will include:

• Regional integration as a legal and policy imperative
• The EU as a model of regional integration
• History, structure and institutions of the EU
• Interactions between the EU and national law
• The rights of individuals under EU law
• EU trade law
• The EU in the world
• Sanctions, terrorism, human rights and EU law.

A student who has successfully completed this subject will:

• Be able to approach the EU legal order as an example of regional integration;
• Be familiar with the ways in which the EU seeks to respond to the challenges of globalisation
• Understand and be able to assess critically the fundamental aspects of constitutional, institutional and substantive EU law
• Be able to discuss critically the various interactions between the EU and national legal orders
• Be able to assess the political ramifications of the introduction and development of legal principles in the context of European integration
• Be able to identify the various models of integration which apply in different areas of EU activities
• Be familiar with the most topical challenges currently facing the EU
• Be able to explore the ways in which the EU interacts with the rest of the world
• Be able to ascertain whether there the EU model of regional integration may be replicated in other cases

Take home examination (100%) (19–22 April)
or
10,000 word research paper (100%) (5 June) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator

Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.