asignatura master 2025

ECTS: 5

1 semester

This course concerns the structure and functioning of  European Union Courts which includes not only the study of the organs of this nature, but also their functioning in the European Multilevel system, which leads to interrelate their competences with those of European Union Member States courts, where appropriate.

The Court of Justice interprets EU law guaranteeing an uniform application in all EU Member States. Both, its composition and functions are complex but the establishment of a jurisdiction in the EU is one of its most important features. Through this course, students have to meet a knowledge of the jurisdictional structure in the European Union by studying the European Court of Justice: concept, structure and functions; the General Court: concept, structure and roles; and roles and relationships of both of them with internal organs of EU Member States.

This Official Master on the European Union offers students a high-level academic education that allows them to achieve optimum conditions to develop their professional and academic career. It is intended to provide students with a high-level training that will place them in optimal conditions to work in professional or academic enviroments.

The fundamental role of this type of degrees in European Union countries is a consequence of the central place a college education must have for a better understanding of the process of integration. For this reason, the different degrees in European Union Studies are a priority for the European institutions and Member States, among which UNED is not an exception.

a) Those established for the admission to the Master and specifically for the itinerary in English.

b) For the analysis of foreign documents, knowledge of any of the official EU languages will be an asset

c) Generally, in this Law speciality it is helpful if the student is familiar with the terms (glossary) that are commonly used in the European Union, which will allow more and better understanding of the information.

d) It is equally relevant in this course that students have basic computer skills, since such skills are needed to follow the course. Students need to access learning materials and other information through these systems.

- Prof. Dr. Joaquín Sarrión Esteve

Personal attention:

Tuesday from 10 to 14 hours and from 15 to 19 hours.  

2.68. Faculty of Law. UNED.

E-Mail: jsarrion@der.uned.es

Phone: 0034/91 398 7618

Interaction: virtual forum /mail /phone

Other (social networks):

Twitter: @joaqsarrion

-Prof. Dr. Xavier Arzoz 

Personal attention:

Wednesday from 10:00 to 13:00

4.08. Faculty of Law. UNED. 

Email: xarzoz@der.uned.es

Phone: 0034 91398 8286

It is highly advisable that students contact the teacher by e-mail or the virtual platform. Students can also use email phone (during personal attention hours) to contact the teaching team, although it is recommended to contact preferably through the platform or by mail. To arrange a face-to-face meeting, it is recommended to confirm  in advance with the teacher.

BASIC AND GENERAL COMPETENCES:

CG01 – To know how to solve problems in multidisciplinary environments related to the European Union.

CG02 – To know how to communicate ideas and opinions based on specific and advanced knowledge about the European Union and make reasoned judgments about them.

CG03 – To interpret the content of the texts and documents of the European Union so that the student is able to make decisions and formulate options about them in the complex environment of the structure and order of the European Union.

CB6 – To acquire and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity to be original in the development and/or application of ideas, often in a research context

CB7 – To know how to apply the knowledge acquired and the ability to solve problems in new or little-known environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to the area of ¿¿study.

CB8 – To be able to integrate knowledge and to face the complexity of making judgments based on information that, being incomplete or limited, includes reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.

CB9 – To know how to communicate conclusions and the ultimate knowledge and reasons to specialized and non-specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous way.

CB10 – To acquire the learning skills that allow  to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.

SPECIFIC COMPETENCES:

CE01 – To work in multidisciplinary contexts that are typical of the European Union and solve problems in that area.

CE02 – To control the instruments of regulation and management of the European Union in professional and academic contexts.

CE03 – To identify rules and documents within the legal-political system resulting from the integration of the legal systems of the Member States and the European Union.

CE04 – To find, analyze and apply the legislation emanating from the different institutions and bodies of the European Union, as well as that of the Member States that refers to or is involved in the European system.

CE05 – To find, analyze and apply the jurisprudence of the Courts that make up the jurisdiction of the European Union as well as the jurisprudence of any order and level of the member states that refers to or is involved with the European Union system.

The objectivesto be achieved in the study of this subject are:

a) Knowledge of the court structure in the European Union as a whole and each of its organs,

b) Importance of the jurisdiction in the organization and functioning of the European Union,

c) Relations between the European Union's jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of the Member States, with special reference to Spanish jurisdiction.

This subject will be taught according to the distance education methodology that characterizes the UNED. Thus, students face a self-learning process but assisted by the teacher.

The education process is articulated through various communication distance learning systems. Within these systems, the Master in European Union is provided with support in a virtual interactive platform where the student finds both basic materials and supplementary teaching materials, information, news, exercises and is also trained to perform the evaluation for different subjects. More specifically, the virtual platform will contain: legislation, case law, internet links, a glossary of terms, teaching materials, exercises.

In addion teaching team will use additional communitation distance systems to support students as Twitter, Facebook specific pages, and a Telegram canal.

If necessary, the basic bibliography will be updated at the beginning of the academic year.

It is recommended to use a handbook on EU law, and to consult the following texts:

• EuropeanUnion Treaties (in force)
• Charter ofFundamental Rights of the EU
• Secondary Law
• Case Law
• Spanish Constitution
• Organic Law of the Constitutional Court
• Organic Law of the Judicial Power
• Other legislation and documentation

Additional Complementary Bibliography:

English bibliography:

Alter, K. J., The European Court’s Political Power, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2009.

Bobek, M. and Adams-Prassl, J., The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in the Member States, Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2020.

Cartabia, M., “European Rights: Taking Dialogue Seriously”, European Constitutional Law Review, 2009, n. 5, pp 5-31.

Barnard, C., The substantive law of the EU. The Four Freedoms, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2010.

Bartolini, A., Colcelli, V., y Cippitani, R. (eds.), Dictionary of the Statuses within EU law, Springer, 2019.

Biondi, A., Eeckhout, P., Ripley, S. (Ed.), EU Law after Lisbon, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2012.

Bogdandy, A. von, “Pluralism, direct effect, and the ultimate say: On the relationship between international and domestic constitutional law”, Int J Constitutional Law, 2008, 6 (3-4), pp. 397- 413.

Dawson, M., The Governance of EU Fundamental Rights, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2017.

Di Federico, G. (Ed.), The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, Springer, 2009.

Douglas-Scott, S., Hatzis, N. (Ed.), Research Handbook on Eu Law and Human Rights (Research Handbooks in European Law Series), Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017.

Fabbrini, F., Fundamental Rights in Europe, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2014.

Fairhurst, J., Law of the European Union, 11th edition, Pearson, 2016.

Horspool, M., European Union Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2006.

Kumm, M., “The Jurisprudence of Constitutional Conflict: Constitutional Supremacy in Europe before and after the Constitutional Treaty”, European Law Journal, 11, 3, pp. 262–307, 2005.

Lindfelt, M., Fundamental Rights in the European Union – Towards Higher Law of the Land? A Study of the Status of Fundamental Rights in a Broader Constitutional Setting, ÅboAkademiUniversity, Åbo, 2007.

Mjöl Arnardöttir, A., and Buyse, A. (Ed.), Rethinking relations between the ECHR, EU, and national legal orders, Routledge, 2016.

Oppenheimer, A. (ed.), The Relationship between European Community Law and National Law, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2003.

Poiares Maduro, M., y Azoulai, L, (eds.), The Past and Future of EU Law: The Classics of EU Law Revisited on the 50th Anniversary of the Rome Treaty, Hart Publishing, Oxford y Portland, 2010.

Pollicino, O., “The New Relationship between National and the European Courts after the Enlargement of Europe: Towards a Unitary Theory of Jurisprudential Supranational Law?”, Yearbook of European Law, 2010, n. 29, pp. 65-111.

Nicola, N. and Davies, B. (eds), EU Law Stories. Contextual and Critical Histories of European Jurisprudence, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2017.

Phelan, W., Great Judgments of the European Court of Justice. Rethinking the Landmark Decisions of the Foundational Period, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2019.

Poiares Maduro, M. and Azoulai, L. (eds), The Past and Future of EU Law. The Classics of EU Law Revisited on the 50th anniversary of the Rome Treaty, Hart Publishing, Hart, 2010.

Rosas, A. and Armati, L., EU Constitutional Law. An Introduction, 3^rd ed., Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2018.

Rossi, L.S., “How Fundamental are Fundamental Principles? Primacy and Fundamental Rights after Lisbon”, Yearbook of European Law, 2008.

Rossi, L. S., and Casorali, F. (Ed.), The EU After Lisbon, Springer, 2016.

Sarrión Esteve, J., “Actual Trends and Challenges of the Constitutional Fundamental Rights and Principles in the ECJ Case Law from the Perspective of Multilevel Constitutionalism” (September 4, 2015), available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2656394

Stiernstrom, M., “The Relationship Between Community Law and National Law”, (University of Miami, Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series, v.5 n. 33, October 2005), available at: https://aei.pitt.edu/8162/1/Stiermstromfinal.pdf

Stone Sweet, A., The Judicial Construction of Europe, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2004.

Torres Pérez, A., Conflicts of Rights in the European Union. A theory of Supranational Adjudication, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2009.

Walkila, S., Horizontal Effect of Fundamental Rights in EU Law, Europa Law Publishing, 2015.

Weatherill, S., Law and Values in the European Union, Oxford University Press, Oxford,  2016.

Spanish bibliography:

Aguilar Calahorro, A., “La primera cuestión prejudicial planteada por el Tribunal Constitucional al Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea – Auto del Tribunal Constitucional 86/2011, de 9 de junio, Revista de Derecho Constitucional Europeo, 16, 2011,https://www.ugr.es/~redce/REDCE16/articulos/12AAguilar.htm

Aguilar Calahorro, Augusto, Dimensión constitucional del principio de primacía, Thomsom-Reuters, 2015.

Alonso García, R., El Juez español y el Derecho Comunitario, CGPJ, Madrid, 2003.

Alonso García, R., Sistema jurídico de la Unión Europea, Civitas Thomsom Reuters, 2014.

Arzoz Santiesteban, X., Tutela de los derechos fundamentales de la Unión Europea por el Tribunal Constitucional, INAP, 2015.

Arzoz Santisteban, X., Transformaciones judiciales. Karlsruhe y los derechos fundamentales de la Unión Europea, CEPC, Madrid, 2022.

Arzoz Santisteban, X., “La Carta de Derechos Fundamentales de la UE como canon del recurso de amparo”, en J. A. Xiol y X. Arzoz, La Carta de Derechos Fundamentales de la UE como canon del recurso de amparo, Fundación Coloquio Jurídico Europeo, Madrid, 2024, pp. 97-188.

Azpitarte Sánchez, M., El Tribunal Constitucional ante el control del Derecho comunitario derivado, Civitas, Madrid, 2002.

Cippitani, R., Interpretación y derecho de la integración, Astrea, 2016.

Díaz Crego, María, Protección de los derechos fundamentales en la Unión Europea y en los Estados miembros, Reus, 2009.

Elías Méndez, C., “La jurisdicción constitucional en los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea”, Revista de Derecho Constitucional Europeo, nº 16, 2011, https://www.ugr.es/~redce/REDCE16/articulos/01CElias.htm

Gómez Sánchez, Yolanda (coord.), Los derechos en Europa, UNED, 1997.

Gómez Sánchez, Y., Derecho Constitucional Europeo, Sanz y Torres, 2015.

Gómez Sánchez, Y., Constitucionalismo multinivel: derechos fundamentales, Sanz y Torres, 3a edición, 2015.

Gordillo, L., y Martinico, G., Historia del país de las hadas. La jurisprudenica constitucionalizadora del Tribunal de Justicia, 2015.

Moreiro González, C. J. and Silva de Lapuerta, R. (eds), La contribución de la jurisprudencia de la Gran Sala del Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea a la integración europea, Tirant lo Blanch, Valencia, 2023.

Rodríguez-Izquierdo Serrano, Myriam (ed.) Jurisprudencia y Sistema de Derechos en la Unión Europea, Athenaica, 2016.

Ragone, S., “Las relaciones de los Tribunales Constitucionales de los Estados miembros con el Tribunal de Justicia y con el Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos: una propuesta de clasificación”, Revista de Derecho Constitucional Europeo, 16, 2011, https://www.ugr.es/~redce/REDCE16/articulos/02SRagone.htm

Sarrión Esteve, J., "Los conflictos entre libertades económicas y derechos fundamentales en la jurisprudencia del Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea", Revista de Derecho Político, nº 81, 2011, pp. 379-412.

Sarrión Esteve, J., El Tribunal de Justicia de Luxemburgo como garante de los derechos fundamentales, Dykinson, 2013. Online ebook available at the UNED Library.

Sarrión Esteve, J., Los desafíos para la Justicia Europea en un sistema multinivel. Una aproximación desde la perspectiva de la eficacia de los derechos, Aranzadi, 2023. 

Sobrido Prieto, M., Las comunidades autónomas ante el Tribunal de Justicia y el Tribunal de Primera Instancia de las Comunidades Europeas, Tirant lo Blanch, 2003.

Tajadura Tejada, J. (coord.), Justicia Constitucional y Unión Europea, CEPC, Madrid, 2008.

Tenorio Sánchez, P. J., "Diálogo entre tribunales  y protección de los derechos fundamentales en el ámbito europeo", Revista General de Derecho Europeo, 31.

Vidal Prado, C., El impacto del nuevo Derecho europeo en los Tribunales constitucionales, Colex, Madrid, 2004.

Vecchio, Fausto., Primacía del Derecho Europeo y Salvaguarda de las Identidades Constitucionales, Boletín Oficial del Estado, 2015

On-line course: The course will be conducted on-line. 

Access to learning materials, submission of essays and other documents, and communication between course actors will take place through the specific on-line channel designed and maintained for the course, including the virtual forum and the board of notices at the virtual platform. 

Teaching team will provide with other additional channels as social channels for commnication and support teaching, including the Canal UNED, Radio UNED, etc. 

Main links:

Canal UNED: 

Master en Unión Europea (Master in European Union) serie: https://canal.uned.es/series/5a6f781cb1111fec0b8b4569

Jean Monnet Module "Jurisdicción y Procedimientos en la Unión Europea", EUJuris, Canal UNED. https://canal.uned.es/series/602a5c39b6092369ff03db45

Legal Coffee Meetings serie: https://canal.uned.es/series/5ab0f2edb1111f11778b456a

Other actitivies in streaming thanks to Canal UNED

Web Pages

https://www.uned.es/dpto_con/

https://iurisprudentia.net/ 

https://takingalook.ideasoneurope.eu/ (in English)

Social channels: 

Telegram: https://t.me/iurisprudentianet

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iurisprudentiaNet/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joaquinsarrionesteve/

European glossary

https://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/glossary/  

Reviews in English

Common Market Law Review, https://kluwerlawonline.com/Journals/Common+Market+Law+Review/2

European Constitutional Law Review, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-constitutional-law-review

European Law Review, https://www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk/Product/Academic-Law/European-Law-Review/Journal/30791372#:~:text=The%20European%20Law%20Review%20is,and%20administration%20of%20the%20law.

Reviews in Spanish: 

Anuario Iberoamericano de Justicia Constitucional, https://www.cepc.gob.es/publicaciones/revistas/anuario-iberoamericano-de-justicia-constitucional

Revista de Derecho Constitucional Europeo, https://www.ugr.es/~redce/

Revista de Derecho Político, https://revistas.uned.es/index.php/derechopolitico

Revista de Estudios Políticos, https://www.cepc.gob.es/publicaciones/revistas/revista-de-estudios-politicos

Revista de las Cortes Generales, https://revista.cortesgenerales.es/rcg

Revista Española de Derecho Constitucional, https://www.cepc.gob.es/publicaciones/revistas/revista-espanola-de-derecho-constitucional

Revista Universitaria Europea, https://www.revistarue.eu/

Teoría y realidad constitucional, https://revistas.uned.es/index.php/TRC?msclkid=a24a149bcee811ec80525d0d30d9790a

Other useful links: 

UNED Library facilitate acces to: 

Cambridge Core (Social Sciences and Humanities) 

SpringerLINK Books (Including Social Sciences)

Elsevier

Ebook Central

VLex (Law)

Thomsom Reuters Proview (Law, includes 23 revies within Law).

It is important also to note the following resources: 

-The resource “Derechos Fundamentales” (Fundametnal Rights) of the Agencia Estatal del Boletín Oficial del Estado, https://www.boe.es/legislacion/derechos_fundamentales.php

-European Union website, https://europa.eu/index_es.htm

-European Court of Justice website, https://curia.europa.eu/