International Law and International Law On Sustainable Development
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The Course explores the functioning of the international and European legal systems and how they deal with the concept of sustainable development.
The course aims at explaining:
- the fundamental aspects of the normative process of making and applying Public International Law within a pluralistic and globalized legal order;
- the process of European integration in its legal and institutional aspects or, for those students having already received education in EU Law, to advance their knowledge and understanding of EU Law, especially relating to sustainable development;
- the normative role of the concept of sustainable development in contemporary international law and of the legal techniques to foster the integration of economic, social, and environmental concerns in the process of international law.
The course aims at explaining:
- the fundamental aspects of the normative process of making and applying Public International Law within a pluralistic and globalized legal order;
- the process of European integration in its legal and institutional aspects or, for those students having already received education in EU Law, to advance their knowledge and understanding of EU Law, especially relating to sustainable development;
- the normative role of the concept of sustainable development in contemporary international law and of the legal techniques to foster the integration of economic, social, and environmental concerns in the process of international law.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- understand how international and EU law are made, interpreted, and applied, as well as how international law deals with sustainable development issues, with specific references to the legal techniques to further an integrated (rather than a fragmented) approach to international law;
- identify and apply the relevant legal notions learnt during the course to practical cases, through the study of the practice of States and International Organizations and the analysis of relevant international and national case-law
- frame the legal analysis of a given issue from the perspective of public international law and EU law and put forward legal arguments on issues of international law relating to sustainable development
- express basic and intermediate concepts of international and EU law in a coherent and adequate fashion, using proper legal terminology
- familiarise with the method of research and study of international and EU law, including by learning how to search and use primary sources, case-law, and scholarship.
- understand how international and EU law are made, interpreted, and applied, as well as how international law deals with sustainable development issues, with specific references to the legal techniques to further an integrated (rather than a fragmented) approach to international law;
- identify and apply the relevant legal notions learnt during the course to practical cases, through the study of the practice of States and International Organizations and the analysis of relevant international and national case-law
- frame the legal analysis of a given issue from the perspective of public international law and EU law and put forward legal arguments on issues of international law relating to sustainable development
- express basic and intermediate concepts of international and EU law in a coherent and adequate fashion, using proper legal terminology
- familiarise with the method of research and study of international and EU law, including by learning how to search and use primary sources, case-law, and scholarship.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The Course is divided into three parts.
PART I and II: Public International Law.
These two parts explore and analys the main issues regarding the structure and the functioning of the international legal system, and a special part will be dedicated to the relevant rules governing internationally sustainability.
In doing so, issues, themes and cases relevant to the concept of sustainable development will constantly be referred to.
- Notion and nature of public international law and the challenges of sustainable development
- Subjects and actors of international law and the expansion of its subjective reach in the framework of sustainable development
- Law-making in international law and its transformation in the light of sustainable development
- Implementing international law: Responsibility and liability of States and International Organizations; monitoring procedures and dispute settlement;
PART II: European Union Law (Prof. Camilla Burelli, 8 hours)
Explores and analyses the main issues regarding the foundations of European Union Law.
- History of European integration
- EU Institutions
- Legislative process and principles
- EU law in domestic legal systems
- The EU judicial system.
PART I and II: Public International Law.
These two parts explore and analys the main issues regarding the structure and the functioning of the international legal system, and a special part will be dedicated to the relevant rules governing internationally sustainability.
In doing so, issues, themes and cases relevant to the concept of sustainable development will constantly be referred to.
- Notion and nature of public international law and the challenges of sustainable development
- Subjects and actors of international law and the expansion of its subjective reach in the framework of sustainable development
- Law-making in international law and its transformation in the light of sustainable development
- Implementing international law: Responsibility and liability of States and International Organizations; monitoring procedures and dispute settlement;
PART II: European Union Law (Prof. Camilla Burelli, 8 hours)
Explores and analyses the main issues regarding the foundations of European Union Law.
- History of European integration
- EU Institutions
- Legislative process and principles
- EU law in domestic legal systems
- The EU judicial system.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, in the first semester of the first year of the LLM, is conceived as an introduction to: legal method; foundational elements of international law; relevant rules of the global governance of sustainability. Students must be fluent both in English and Italian.
Teaching methods
Course attendance is mandatory, meaning that students will be required to attend at least 70% of classes.
Classes consist of the teaching of the foundational rules of the three areas of the course, and in the discussion of some recent cases. Teaching materials must usually be prepared BEFORE the classes, in order to have a fruitful discussion together.
Classes consist of the teaching of the foundational rules of the three areas of the course, and in the discussion of some recent cases. Teaching materials must usually be prepared BEFORE the classes, in order to have a fruitful discussion together.
Teaching Resources
The following textbooks will provide students with the basic elements of knowledge for Module A of the Course:
- Part I (Public International Law):
A. Tanzi, A Concise Introduction to International Law, Giappichelli/Eleven, 2022;
- Part II (EU Law):
R. Schütze, European Union Law, Cambridge University Press, 2018, Part I Constitutional Foundations limited to: 1."Constitutional History: From Paris to Lisbon" (p. 3 - 41); 3."European Law I: Nature - Direct effect" (p. 76 - 117); 5. "Governmental Structure: Union Institutions I" (p. 150 -187); 6. "Governmental Structure: Union Institutions II" (p. 189 -223); Part II, Governmental Powers, limited to "Legislative Powers: Competences and Procedures" (p. 225 -265).
Further mandatory and suggested readings will be given during the course and be available on the Ariel page of the Course.
- Part I (Public International Law):
A. Tanzi, A Concise Introduction to International Law, Giappichelli/Eleven, 2022;
- Part II (EU Law):
R. Schütze, European Union Law, Cambridge University Press, 2018, Part I Constitutional Foundations limited to: 1."Constitutional History: From Paris to Lisbon" (p. 3 - 41); 3."European Law I: Nature - Direct effect" (p. 76 - 117); 5. "Governmental Structure: Union Institutions I" (p. 150 -187); 6. "Governmental Structure: Union Institutions II" (p. 189 -223); Part II, Governmental Powers, limited to "Legislative Powers: Competences and Procedures" (p. 225 -265).
Further mandatory and suggested readings will be given during the course and be available on the Ariel page of the Course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Students will be assessed through midterm examinations on each unit (general part of international law; institutions of the European Union; special part of international law and sustainability). The final mark will be slightly adjusted according to the individual in-class participation.
IUS/13 - INTERNATIONAL LAW - University credits: 9
Lessons: 63 hours
Shifts:
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 10-12 ; by appointment
Department of Italian and Supranational Law _ Room next to the Library'main entrance
Reception:
First Semestre: Thursday 2:15PM. During the second semester I receive students by appointment, e-mail luigi.crema@unimi
Office in the International and EU Law hallway, ground floor, via Festa del Perdono 7, Milano