The Law of International Organizations

International organizations impact our lives in more significant ways than we often realize. But how do they work? How can member states control the decision-making of such international organizations and how do they vote? What is the legal status of the decisions adopted? How are disputes between states settled and do citizens have any role in international organizations?

Although international organizations obviously differ in terms of the objectives they pursue, the powers they have acquired, the fields in which they are active and in their size, they are at the same time confronted with largely the same institutional issues. After a thorough study of such issues in general, these will be addressed in more concrete ways for selected international organizations, most notably the UN. The course focuses on the institutional law of international organizations, but historic, societal, political and economic contexts will be included as well to explain their existence and functioning.

And then there is the European Union, with a directly elected parliament and wide competences to adopt legislation, an a-typical international organization. The second half of the course zooms in on the EU’s institutional system, addressing fundamental issues such as membership, competences and judicial protection. The overarching question here is whether the European Union still fits in a model of international organizations.

Not possible in combination with RGBOI0350* International European Institutional Law.*

Place of the course within the curriculum:

• Optional legal course

Additional requirements:
Any additional requirements of the course are listed in the "Leidraad" of the course.
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After this course:

• the student has enhanced knowledge and understanding of issues of international and European institutional law.
• the student is able to conduct research and present the outcome of it in a written paper in English.

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Do you study at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) or Wageningen University and Research (WUR)? You can enrol via eduXchange.nl

You must meet the following requirements

• Completed all course modules listed below
• Introduction to Law of Obligations (RGBUPRV001)
• Introduction to Property Law (RGBUPRV002)
• Foundations of Law (RGBUSBR001)
• Intro Constitutional/Administrative Law (RGBUSBR002)
• Introduction to Criminal Law (RGBUSTR001)

• Book Nigel White, The Law of International Organizations, 3rd ed. (2016), Manchester Uniersity Press. (An e-edition is also permitted)
• Miscellaneous Blackboard: Assignments, questions, lecture sheets, feedback