“Introduction to German and EU Law” summer school in Bonn, Strasbourg and Brussels
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- Published: July 23, 2024
From 8 to 18 July 2024, IRZ organized the summer school “Introduction to German and EU Law”, which offered Ukrainian students from five universities the opportunity to gain in-depth insights into the German and European legal system. The participants came from Taras Shevchenko University in Kyiv, Mohyla Academy in Kyiv, Ivan Franko University in Lviv, Yaroslav Mudryi University in Kharkiv and I.I. Mechnikov University in Odessa.
The first module of the summer school took place in Bonn, where the students were given an intensive introduction to the German legal system. In a series of lectures, they learned the basics of German state and constitutional law, civil and civil procedural law, criminal and criminal procedural law as well as administrative law, administrative procedure and administrative procedural law. In addition to the lectures, they had the opportunity to gain practical experience by attending civil and criminal court sessions at Bonn Regional Court. They also explored the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Bonn, giving them a comprehensive insight into the academic world of law.
In preparation for the second module of the summer school, the participants received a comprehensive introduction to European Union (EU) law and a detailed analysis of the impact of EU law on German national law. In addition, human rights protection within the framework of the Council of Europe was dealt with, with a particular focus on the European Convention on Human Rights.
The second module of the summer school took the participants to Strasbourg and Brussels, where they deepened their understanding of the European institutions and how they work. In Strasbourg, they were given an introduction to the work of the Council of Europe and visited the plenary chamber of the Parliamentary Assembly. They were also introduced to the HELP (Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals) program, which is specifically geared towards Ukraine.
The highlight of the summer school was a visit to the plenary session of the newly elected EU Parliament in Strasbourg. The students had the unique opportunity to follow the session from the public gallery and listen to the speeches of the candidates for the post of President of the Parliament.
This was followed in Brussels by a visit to the European Commission and presentations on the role of the European Commission as the EU's political executive and on Ukraine's accession prospects and long-term integration into the EU. The visit to the Council of the EU provided valuable insights into the legal framework for the Union's external relations and rounded off the program.
The summer school not only provided the Ukrainian students with useful academic knowledge, but also enabled them to learn first-hand about the functioning and structures of the most important European institutions, with a special focus on Ukraine.