Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PBL4014

 
TITLE The EU Treaties: Institutional and Democratic Powers

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Public Law

 
DESCRIPTION The objective of the study-unit: a study of European democratic integration through the historical evolution of the Institutional balances.
The objective is to transmit knowledge of European integration to students through the study of the history of the Treaties of the European Communities and European Union.
At the same time it will moreover go further through a comparison of the historical context with the evolution of institutional balances: issue and division of powers and democratic strengthening of the Institutions.
The values on which the Union is based and the need to involve the whole territory of the European Communities with the participation of the citizen in community life will be studied by the students. This will be done by analysing how achievement of the acquis communautaire renders irreversible the integration process and at the same time makes the existence of institutional power at a European level more understandable.
The internal and external challenges are seen as a moment of aggregation and of overcoming of national self interest.
The slow, but constant, democratization of the Institutions will be studied from the point of view of the need of a Constitutional Treaty which permits the internal government of the European Union and the external political role beyond its borders.
The role of peace has its foundations in the universal values of human rights and in the capacity of the democratic system to involve the citizen by permitting him/her participation which visibly impacts on the most important political, economic and social choices.
The European Union has to converse by integrating the Mediterranean area (and not excluding the border/neighbouring countries) to guarantee a peaceful and civilised co-existence.

Detailed description of the contents of the study-unit:

1. Communities integration and Intergovernmental System: history and Institutional democratic evolution in European Integration.
2. The Europe Of Citizens After The Direct Election Of The Members Of The European Parliament.
3. The Single Act and the Single Market.
4. Human Rights After Berlin: New Eastern And Mediterranean Regions.
5. The Powers Of The European Institutions From Maastricht To Nice.
6. The Intergovernmental Conferences And Convention towards a Constitution for Europe.
7. Citizens And Human Rights In The Nice Treaty And the Constitutional Treaty.
8. The Consensus And Voting Systems.
9. New Technology And New Democracy.
10. Citizenship In Europe And Human Rights In The Neighbouring States (Consensus And Dignity).

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment Yes 30%
Examination (2 Hours) Yes 70%

 
LECTURER/S Ian Refalo

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit