Area of freedom, security and justice

Teacher(s)

Stefan Marco;

Language

English

Main themes

The overall theme of the course is the progressive construction of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ) of the European Union (EU). The course is organized around three major sub-themes: Historical perspectives and institutional framework of the AFSJ; Law enforcement and criminal justice in the AFSJ; EU policies and laws on borders, migration, and asylum.
Historical perspectives and institutional framework of the AFSJ: overview of both the legal and political milestones and of the power dynamics at play in the construction of the AFSJ; analysis of the main EU institutions (e.g. European Commission, European Parliament, Court of Justice, European Council and Council of the European Union) with a focus on their specific roles and competences related to the AFSJ. Presentation of AFSJ-related institutional actors: EUROPOL, EUROJUST, the European Data Protection Supervisor, FRONTEX, etc.; and brief overview of non-institutional actors (e.g. private actors, interest groups, NGOs') and of key international players.
Law enforcement and criminal justice in the AFSJ: introduction to principles and rules governing EU police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters; analysis of current trends and recent developments in EU criminal laws and policies, with a focus on the use of digital technologies and personal data in EU criminal law enforcement.
EU policies and laws on borders, migration, and asylum: study of the fundamentals of the Schengen Area; assessment of the achievements and shortcomings of EU laws and policies on asylum; analysis of the mechanisms in place to control and manage the EU external borders, including in the context of international cooperation with third countries.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Gained a comprehensive knowledge of the main AFSJ policies. Students will acquaint with the latest reforms in EU justice and home affairs, and engage with the ongoing policy and scholarly discussions related to these composite legal and policy domains.
2	Gauged the logics underpinning normative integration and operational cooperation in the AFJS. Students will be asked to critically analyse the role played by the institutions and actors responsible for the design and implementation of AFSJ policies and laws.
3	Further developed academic skills (e.g. how to engage with academic literature; how to debate based on scientific arguments) and non-academic ones (e.g. how to engage with experts and practitioners working on AFSJ-related matters; how to participate in a group discussion; how to write a policy brief).

Content

The main objective of this course is to provide students with a thorough understanding of the AFSJ, its normative foundations, institutional framework, policy fields and concerned stakeholders. Notably, this course requires students to study the rules and dynamics that govern the functioning of the AFSJ and its ongoing development.

Evaluation methods

Written or oral examination.

Faculty or entity

> EURO