Learning objectives
This course aims at offering students a specialized understanding of the multiple legal dynamics entrenching food, climate change and sustainability. In doing so, students are expected to develop critical thinking and legal argumentation in order to assess whether the most recent EU actions are suitable to streamline food sustainability across various policy areas as well as to verify whether EU actions are efficient to contrast climate change.
Prerequisites
Students having no previous knowledge of the European Union legal order are welcome to contact the instructor in advance.
Course unit content
This course explores the multiple overlapping dimensions of EU food safety, sustainability and climate change. Starting from a general presentation of EU competences on internal market and environment, the course delves into an analysis of the applicable legal regime to foodstuffs while linking it to how supply chains influence sustainability and climate change. In doing so, particular attention is paid to the legal notion of food, to free movement, to the Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy as well as the climate neutrality regulation. This course, ultimately, revolves around the most recent legislative acts and other acts adopted by institutions, coupled with the interpretation thereof given by the Court of Justice’s case law.
Full programme
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Bibliography
S. Kingston, V. Heyvaert, A. Čavoški, European Environmental Law, 2017, Cambridge University Press (only the Chapters communicated by the instructor) AND
H. Schebesta, K. Purnhagen, EU Food Law, 2024, Oxford University Press (only the Chapters communicated by the instructor). Additional reading materials (e.g., legislative acts, judgements and other documents) will be uploaded on Elly on a weekly basis.
Teaching methods
Lectures are devoted to the explanation of fundamental notions by involving students in developing critical thinking and legal argumentations’ skills. Each lesson includes a dedicated space for debate, taking stock of the current legislative framework as well as the interpretation thereof provided by the Court of Justice. In particular, through innovative teaching methods, case studies are presented and collectively discussed.
Assessment methods and criteria
Attending students (i.e., those attending at least 75% of the classes): written and oral assessment. The written part, open book (only the Treaty is allowed) and lasting two hours, consists of solving a concrete case through three sub-sections, each of which will be graded from 0 to 8 (maximum 24). A mark of at least 16 is required to be admitted to the oral part. The oral part, to which a maximum of 6 is attributed, consists of an additional single question. As for the oral part, students will be examined in alphabetical order.
Non-attending students: entirely oral assessment consisting of three questions on the course topics as developed in the suggested textbook and on the materials uploaded on Elly. Students will be examined in alphabetical order.
In line with the objectives of this course, this mode of assessment allows to evaluate a basic preparation in the subject-matter and its practical application in the resolution of concrete cases. In addition, in both the written and the oral part, the mastery of specific technical terminology will also be assessed.
Other information
External experts might be invited to present their professional expertise, experiences and activities.
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
2. Zero hunger
3. Good health and well-being
4. Quality education
12. Responsible consumption and production
13. Climate action
