Schwerpunktbereich 8: European and International Law

Explore the historical beginnings of EU human rights law, analyse pivotal legal instruments and cases. Additionally, delve into the complexities of applying these
rights beyond EU borders, addressing critical questions about their extraterritorial reach and impact today.

1 hour per week

Prof. Dr. Rike Kr?mer-Hoppe

Adopted in 1950, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) constitutes one of the founding instruments of the European order established after World War II. Initially limited to Western Europe, it binds now Germany and 45 other member States of the Council of Europe, from Azerbaijan to the United Kingdom, from Iceland to Turkey, and from Finland to Portugal. Its implementation is monitored by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

While Strasbourg case law has deeply influenced domestic law in Germany and other Convention States, principled resistance against the Court has asserted itself at least in some member States, and fundamental standards concerning, inter alia, freedom of speech and the human treatment of refugees are under pressure.

The course deals with

• European human rights theory,
• selected human rights guarantees such as the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment, freedom of expression or the protection of private life, and?
• the functioning of the European Court of Human Rights.

Although the ECHR and the Strasbourg Court do not belong to the European Union (EU), interactions with EU law and with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in particular will also be addressed.

2 hours per week; summer semester

Prof. Dr. Robert Uerpmann-Wittzack

Explore how human rights are protected both by global and regional systems, and get acquainted with mechanisms of human rights protection that transcend the national context without being part of these systems.

2 hours per week, summer semester

Prof. Dr. Alexander Graser

Core elements of today's international order were established in response to two world wars and the horrors of the Nazi regime. While this order has never been perfect, it now is more contested than ever since 1945. What are the chances of achieving peace, order and perhaps even justice through international law, and are there alternatives?

The course introduces to the legal framework for international relations, its shortcomings and possible alternatives. It deals with core issues of public international law such as the law?of diplomatic relations, prohibited use of force and self-defense, peace keeping and peace making within the United Nations, the law of armed conflicts, immunities and peaceful settlement of disputes through international courts.?Recent state practice will play an important role.

A tutorial complements?the course. In the tutorial, a special focus will be laid on the sources of?international law, the law of treaties and the law of state responsibility.

2 + 1 hours per week, winter semester

Prof. Dr. Robert Uerpmann-Wittzack

Course in German

In der schwerpunktbereichsübergreifenden Veranstaltung werden aktuelle Entscheidungen und Streitfragen diskutiert. Die Veranstaltung wird in Anlehnung an die Lehre im anglo-amerikanischen Raum in der Diskussion gestaltet (?sokratische Methode”). Hierdurch kann vor allem auf Ihre Wünsche und Schwierigkeiten bei der Bearbeitung von Rechtsfragen eingegangen werden.

Die zu besprechenden Entscheidungen werden vorab bekannt gegeben, damit sie vor Beginn der Veranstaltung von allen durchgearbeitet (?Reading assignment”) und diskutiert werden k?nnen. Auf diese Weise soll zugleich die Herangehensweise hinsichtlich vorbereitender Seminararbeiten geübt werden. Die Korrektur von Seminar- und Studienarbeiten zeigt, dass die eigenst?ndige Erfassung jüngerer Rechtsprechungsentwicklungen etwa durch aktuelle Urteile sowie die anschlie?ende Einordnung derselben in vorhandene Kontexte immer wieder Probleme bereiten. Oftmals fehlt zudem der Mut zur kritischen Bewertung. Die Veranstaltung will hier die oftmals vorrangige N?herungsweise an Rechtsprobleme durch Sekund?rliteratur (?Anmerkungslektüre” statt ?Urteilslektüre”) bewusst durchbrechen und zum kritischen Diskurs anregen, der in den ?klassischen” Vorlesungen oft zu kurz kommt. Mit Kant gilt also: ?Habe Mut, Dich Deines eigenen Verstandes zu bedienen!”

2 hours per week

Prof. Dr. Thorsten Kingreen
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kühling

Within seminars, you will have to write two short theses, and to present and discuss them with other students.

In the preparatory seminar, you will practise writing a seminar paper under the close guidance of the lecturer.

The second thesis is the Studienarbeit, which is part of your Legal University Examination.

A variety of seminars is offered, covering the different aspects of European and International Law. Seminars are normally held in German.

2 + 2 hours per week

Practise how to switch from German to English and vice versa while discussing questions of European and international law.

1 hour per week, summer semester (optional)

Prof. Dr. Robert Uerpmann-Wittzack