Droit des relations extérieures de l'Union Européenne

The course aims to give students an overview of the legal issues raised by the European Union's actions on the international stage, which make up the law of the Union's external relations.

In particular, the course covers the objectives and principles governing the Union's external action, the competences available to the Union, its capacity to conclude international agreements (alone or with the Member States) and the institutional framework of its external relations. Specific areas of the Union's external action will also be studied, such as the promotion of democracy and human rights, its relations with neighbouring countries (enlargement and neighbourhood policy) and the common foreign and security policy. These areas will be chosen in the light of current events to reflect the relevance and tensions surrounding the EU's external relations. 

By way of example, the subjects covered in 2024-2025 were as follows: 

• The EU as a subject of international law
• The EU's external competences
• The actors in the EU's external relations
• The role of the Member States (with a focus of their role in the CFSP)
• The EU and its neighbourhood (enlargement)
• The EU as a commercial actor (trade policy)  
• The EU's response to armed conflicts (prevention of international crimes, defence)
• External relations outside the EU’s legal framework (informalisation)

The course on the EU's external relations law will enable students to:

1. master the main principles of the European Union's external action (competences, policies with an external dimension, etc.) and understand the legal questions at stake;
2. understand the role of the European Union on the international stage;
3. decipher and analyse the case law of the CJEU relating to the EU's external action;
4. apply their knowledge of EU law, such as the principle of conferral of competence, or the EU institutional framework, to the EU's external relations.

Connaissances et compétences pré-requises ou co-requises

A basic knowledge of European Union law is required (role of the various EU institutions, principle of conferral of competences, etc.).

The course is ex cathedra, with time for exchange and discussion with the students, who will be asked to contribute on the basis of the compulsory and recommended readings. Their participation will involve the use of interactive tools such as Wooclap. The possibility to make an optional indiviudal or group presentation will be offered to the students, who may be able to gain one or two additional points to the exam depending on the quality of their presentation. Topics for the optional  presentations will be posted on the Université virtuelle at the start of the class.

The course content is based on an analysis of the relevant provisions of the European Treaties, key rulings and opinions of the CJEU, and contributions from the relevant academic literature. 

The material provided to the students will be in English. They will be available via the course page on the Virtual University: DROI-O608 - Droit des relations extérieures de l'Union Européenne - 202526.

Références, bibliographie et lectures recommandées

Students will be given compulsory readings. Other resources (judgments, articles, etc.) will also be made available, as well as a general bibliography on EU external relations law. 

Support(s) de cours

• Syllabus
• Université virtuelle

Informations complémentaires

The class will be taught and evaluated in English. 

Contacts

Prof. Chloé Brière (chloe.briere@ulb.be)

Campus

Solbosch

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

• Examen oral

Examen oral

The examination will be an oral examination, with no preparation time, in English. You will be asked two questions, related to the topics covered in class and readings:

• The first will be taken from a list of questions sent out during the term (at the end of the lectures).
• The second will be original but shorter. 

Students will be authorised to have the European treaties (TUE and TFUE) without annotations. Past exam questions will be communicated to students. 
 

 

Construction de la note (en ce compris, la pondération des notes partielles)

The final grade will be determined by your performance during the oral exam. For the students who made an optional presentation, the grade may include the point(s) obtained with such presentation. 

Langue(s) d'évaluation

• anglais