EU Integration [IP]

1.5 ECTS

Course description:

The course introduces the students to the political and legal dynamics of EU enlargement and EU accession process, with particular emphasis on Rule of Law chapters (23 and 24) and the reforms required from candidate countries.

EU Law [IP]

1.5 ECTS

Course programme:

No.

Main subjects

1.

The EU founding values, principles and objectives; in particular: the EU system of democracy and the rule of law

2.

The EU institutional framework

3.

Internal Market

4.

Primary EU Law, secondary EU Law (Regulations, Directives, Decisions), principles governing EU law and its interaction with national legal systems; in particular: legal primacy, direct effect

5.

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

6.

Infringement proceedings or Simulation

European Political Economy [IP]

1.5 ECTS

Course description:

The course is designed to describe and analyse the EU in the context of economic integration. The European project’s two main features in the context of economic integration are the Single Market (Internal Market) and the Single Currency (the Economic and Monetary Union/the euro area). These may be seen as facilitating the idea of “one” Europe: one market, one currency. The course aims at analysing the benefits and drawbacks of these ideas, not least in the context of imperfect integration. The main focus will be on the economic aspects of the EU, but the course will add a political dimension, too.

Fundamental Rights [IP]

1.5 ECTS

Course description:

This course will embark to discuss the main tenets of fundamental rights. It will start by general introduction to international human rights. The course will then proceed with an examination of the principles of human rights implementation and the interaction between national and international levels in this regard. The key actors and processes of domestic implementation will be explored with a special focus on the importance of the role of human rights in the law-making and decision making. Turning to the international setting, the course will examine the United Nations system of human rights protection, namely, standard-setting and monitoring by the organizations of the UN system. Participants will also get an insight into the European system for the protection of human rights, with a special focus on the mechanisms of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights. The course will proceed with exploring different civil and political rights and freedoms and their application in practice. The course will conclude with the examination of emerging and contemporary human rights challenges in relation to climate change, global pandemics, and the role of human rights in the situations of armed conflicts. 


Good Governance and Anti-corruption [IP]

1.5 ECTS

Course description:

In this course participants will learn what is corruption, why it matters and what can be done on national level to reduce it. The course covers a mixture of concepts and practical tools for preventing and controlling corruption, featuring case studies from Latvia and other European Union countries. The course focuses on the links between integrity, transparency and anti-corruption, and also explores modern forms of corruption and crimes related to corruption.

After completing the course participants will understand the fundamentals of successful anti-corruption approaches and the main challenges of designing and implementing national level anti-corruption reforms.

Reforms to Strengthen the Rule of Law in EU Candidate Countries [IP]

1.5 ECTS

Course description:


The course will introduce the participants to the topic of public administration reforms and reforms of the judiciary and their role in the path of candidate countries applying for EU membership – both before and after the opening of accession negotiations. The course will examine the rationale for reforms as part of EU integration process, examine the content of reforms required of and implemented by candidate countries and assess the linkages with (and impact on) the rule of law and political and economic development of candidate countries.