EU and EEA Commercial Law

ECTS Credits

10 ECTS Credits

Level of Study

Master

Full-time/Part-time

Full time

Teaching semester

Autumn

Place of Instruction

Faculty of Law, UiB

Objectives and Content

The course aims to provide students with an overview of EU/EEA commercial law, focussing particularly on the regulation of the internal market and certain ancillary policies inherently connected thereto.

The topics covered by the course constitute the very core of EU/EEA cooperation, and will include (but not be limited to) both theoretical and practical aspects of the rules governing the EU Customs Union, the Four Freedoms (i.e. free movement of goods, services, workers and capital) and restrictions, derogations and justifications thereto, and the EU Common Commercial Policy (CCP).

Certain cross-policy aspects, particularly concerning the relationship between the Four Freedoms, state aid and competition rules, will also be touched upon during the course.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be expected to be able to demonstrate:

1. Thorough knowledge and understanding of the core EU Treaty and EEA-Agreement rules and principles with regard to the internal market and certain ancillary policies thereto, including (but not limited to):

• The four freedoms (free movement of goods, services, workers and capital), including restrictions, derogations and justifications thereto

  • EU Common Commercial Policy
  • Certain cross-policy issues (particularly the relationship between the Four Freedoms, state aid and competition regulatory regimes)

2. General awareness of the most recent developments in the case-law of the EU and EFTA Courts in the policy fields in question.

3. General knowledge and understanding of the relationship between the EU and EEA regulatory regimes, and their relationship to the national legal systems of the EU and EFTA Member States.

By the end of the course, students should have developed the following skills:

• Reading and critical analysis enabling them to evaluate academic works in the field

  • Written and oral skills, including the clear and succinct expression of ideas through presentations and case-studies
  • A basic grounding in research skills and techniques particular to EU and EEA commercial law

Required Previous Knowledge

Good level of English language.

Three years of university studies.

Recommended Previous Knowledge

Good level of English language.

Three years of university studies.

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap

No overlapping with other courses at the Law Faculty.

Combines successfully with JUS285-2-A EU and EEA Public Procurement Law and JUS258-2-B Competition Law.

Access to the Course

The course is available for the following students:

• Admitted to the integrated master programme in law
• Admitted to the two-year master programme in law
• Granted admission to elective courses at the Faculty of Law
• Granted additional right to study following completed master degree in law at UiB
• Exchange students at the Faculty of Law

The pre-requirements may still limit certain students' access to the course

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and seminars

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Students will be required to submit a paper during the course (approximately 2500 words). A passed paper is required for taking the oral exam.

Students may be asked to prepare case-studies and/or short presentations for certain lectures/seminars.

Forms of Assessment

Exam only in semesters with teaching.

Type of exam: oral examination.

Resit, same semester: Students who fail the paper will have a chance to resubmit their paper before the oral exam.

Exam language:

• Question paper: English
• Answer paper: English

Examination Support Material

Support materials allowed during exam:

See section 3-5 of the Supplementary Regulations for Studies at the Faculty of Law at the University of Bergen.

Special regulations about dictionaries at school exam

• According to the Regulations for Studies, one dictionary is permitted support material during the examination. Bilingual dictionaries containing for example both Norwegian-English and English-Norwegian are considered as one dictionary.
• Bilingual dictionaries to/from the same two languages - for example Norwegian-English/English-Norwegian - in two different volumes are also considered as one dictionary (irrespective of publisher or edition).
• Dictionaries as described above cannot be combined with any other types of dictionaries.
• Any kind of combination which makes up more than two physical volumes is forbidden.

In case a student has a special need for any other combination than the above mentioned, such combination has to be clarified with/approved by the course coordinator minimum two weeks before the exam. Students who have not been granted permission to have a special combination minimum two weeks before the exam will be subject to the usual regulations (Section 3-5) about examination support materials.

Grading Scale

A - E for passed, F for failed.

Course Evaluation

According to faculty routines

Course Coordinator

Melanie Hack and Ingrid Margrethe Halvorsen Barlund