8th Edition
Understanding European Union Law
Providing short, clear and accessible explanations of the main areas of EU law, Understanding European Union Law is both an ideal introduction for students new to EU law and an essential addition to revision for the more accomplished.
This eighth edition has been fully revised and updated with the latest legislative changes and includes an in-depth discussion of ‘Brexit’ and its implications for EU–UK relations. The book provides readers with a clear understanding of the structures and rationale behind EU law, explaining how and why the law has developed as it has. In addition to discussing the core areas of EU law such as its sources, the role and powers of the EU’s Institutions, the enforcement of EU law and the law of the internal market, this edition also includes a new chapter on three ‘non-economic’ areas of EU law: fundamental human rights, equality (non-discrimination) and the environment.
This student-friendly text is both broad in scope and highly accessible. It will inspire students towards further study and show that understanding EU law can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. As well as being essential reading for Law students, Understanding European Union Law is also suitable for students on other courses where basic knowledge of EU law is required or useful, such as business studies, political science, international relations or European studies programmes.
Table of Cases
Table of Legislation
Glossary
Abbreviations
1 Introduction
I The significance of EU law
II The aims of this book
III Your approach to studying EU law
IV Finding resources on EU law
V Beginning your studies
VI Conclusions
2 The creation of a European Union
I The European Communities
II The development of the European Economic Community (EEC)
II The EU today and in the future
IV Brexit
3 Who runs the EU?
I Power sharing in the EU
II The institutional structure of the EU
III Institutional balance, accountability and democracy in the EU
IV Conclusions
4 Sources of Union law
I Primary sources of EU law
II Secondary sources of EU law
III Case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union
IV International agreements
V Conclusions
5 The relationship between Union law and national legal systems
I The doctrines of direct effect and supremacy
II Conclusions
6 Enforcing Union law
I Enforcing EU law rights before national courts
II Preliminary references and rulings
III Enforcement actions against Member States (Arts 258-260 TFEU)
IV Actions against EU institutions: judicial review of the acts and omissions of Union bodies
V Conclusions
7 Free movement of goods
I The elimination of pecuniary (monetary) barriers to trade
II The elimination of non-pecuniary barriers to trade
III Conclusions
8 Free movement of persons
I Gaining the right to ‘free movement’
II Limitations on citizens’ rights to free movement
III Free movement: workers’ rights (Arts 45-48 TFEU)
IV Freedom of establishment and the provision of services
V Enforcing rights to free movement of persons
9 An introduction to EU competition law
I The aims of EU competition law
II The prohibition of restrictive practices (Art 101 TFEU)
III Abuse of a dominant market position (Art 102 TFEU)
IV Merger control
V Public bodies and community competition rules
10 Introduction to other areas of EU law: Fundamental rights, equality, the environment
I Fundamental rights
II Equality
III The environment
11 Tips for succeeding in assessments
I Suggested approaches to coursework
II Suggested approaches to revision
III Examination technique
Biography
Karen Davies, LLB, LLM, Cert Ed, Fellow of the Higher Education Authority, has written and lectured on European Union Law for over 20 years and retains an honorary teaching position at Swansea University, Wales.
Maarten van Munster, LLM, is a senior lecturer in European Union Law and Human Rights Law and a researcher at the Multilevel Regulation research group of the Global Governance Centre of Expertise at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.
Isabel Düsterhöft, LLM, MA, is a senior lecturer in international and European Union law and policy at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, and a visiting lecturer at the University of Hamburg and Leuphana University in Germany.
‘This book has proven popular among the students I have taught. They have often commented that the book is a clear and helpful introduction to a subject that may at first appear difficult and daunting.’
Professor Jukka Snell, Faculty of Law, University of Turku
