European Community Law (Byte Size) Course

In this course you gain an insight into the way in which the law of the European Union (European Community law) impacts upon the business community at a national level.

The European Union now represents a vast market and a window of opportunity for UK business and commerce. The basic principles which underpin the European Union are well known - the freedom of movement of capital, goods, services and people. What is less well understood is how the European Union has achieved these objectives by the emergence of a new legal order binding on Member States, with much of the impetus coming from the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Community.

The aim of this course is that you should understand how the European Union uses the law as the medium by which it achieves those objectives.

To this end you will study:

• the emergence of the European Economic Community
• how the European Union is administered/governed by the four main institutions
• the sources and general principles of the European Community law
• how European Community law is integrated at a national level
• the contributions of the Court of Justice to this process
• how European community law is enforced at both a national and European level.

Introduction

Objectives

Section One: The Development of the European Community

Introduction and history

The Treaty of Rome

The four main institutions

The Treaty of Maastricht

Terminology

Summary of section one

Section Two: The Functions of the Institutions

The role of the institutions

Inter-relationship of the institutions

Recent changes

Summary of section two

Section Three: The Sources of European Community Law

Transformation of European Community law into English law

The enacted sources of European Community law

The general principles of EC law

Modes of interpretation

Summary of section three

Section Four: The Integration of European Community Law at a National Level

Supremacy of European Community law

Direct effect

Indirect effect of EC law

State liability for non-compliance with EC law

Summary of section four

Section Five: Enforcement of European Community Law at a European Level

Introduction

Control of the institutions

The action for failure to act

The plea of illegality

The action for damages

Control of Member States

The preliminary reference procedure

Comment

Summary of section five

Unit 5: additional questions

Additional questions: guidance

Further reading

Tutor-marked Question Paper

Qualification 1: European Community Law (Byte Size) Certificate

European Community Law (Byte Size) Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Cert after your name.

In order to offer our students the most convenient and flexible distance learning courses, Stonebridge Associated College offers you the option to study for your course via two methods:

• 1. Via the traditional paper-based method.
• 2. Through the online method via ElearnUK.

When you study through ElearnUK you can quickly access your course material online and submit all of your question papers to your tutor online, using your unique student account. You have access to all of your course material immediately, and when you submit question papers, your tutor sends you an email containing your results and feedback.

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.

You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 20 hrs.

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included

• All study materials
• Study Guide
• Full Tutor and Admin support