Lunchtime Seminar: The European Union and the citizen

The lecture focuses on the role of the individual as a subject of European Union law. It explains the rights and standing of the individual before courts with jurisdiction to deal with EU law and the rights related to free movement and settlement. The first part of the lecture is dedicated to the nature of EU law within the context of international and local law as a sui generis legislation. It then evolves into how the individual participates in enacting and enforcing EU law. Reference is made to the citizen's access to the European Parliament the MEPs, and the national courts necessary to interpret and apply EU law in the domestic context. In this part, the citizen must understand the relationship between the domestic courts and the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU). The third part of the lecture deals with EU institutions' access, particularly direct access to the CJEU by private citizens. Here, brief reference is made to the notion of locus standi for actions of annulment under Art 263 TFEU and access to the European Ombudsman. The final part of the lecture is dedicated to free movement and the rights of third-country nationals in EU member states. The lecture does not focus on UK law post-Brexit or on Brexit itself. However, it deals with British citizens' rights in EU countries, particularly as potential third-country permanent residents in the EU.

The event is intended to be a collaboration between the University of Malta and the IALS under the umbrella of Associate Fellows' contributions to the IALS. The lecturer is a recipient of a Jean Monnet Chair at the University of Malta. The project is about EU citizens and individuals' rights under EU law, hence the subject of the lecture. While the project is mainly implemented at the University of Malta, it does provide for outreach at other universities in Europe, irrespective of whether these are located within the EU or in third countries. As part of the fellowship opportunity with the IALS, the IALS is listed within the programme as one of the potential beneficiaries of this project.

After Brexit, the EU remains a topic of interest to the UK, irrespective of how the relationship continues evolving. Hence, the lecture interests British citizens and international students studying in the UK. The lecture is purely from a legal perspective and does not discuss political issues. 

The topic fits the strategic plan and is a way to understand the legal implications of current affairs. It is of general interest and goes beyond academia. It discusses EU citizens and individual rights from a practical perspective. 

Speaker: Prof Ivan Sammut – Associate Professor University of Malta and Associate Fellow IALS.

Chair: Dr Constantin Stefanou, IALS Taught Programmes Director and Director of the Sir William Dale Centre for Legislative Studies

All welcome - this event if free to attend but booking is required.