The course is a graduate coursefor students of the MA in European Studies (double degree) and it offered in English. It is open to other students at the School of Political Sciences and the Aristotle University. This course provides an in-depth analysis of the policies, decision-making process andinstitutions involved in the European Union’sArea of Freedom, Security, and Justice (AFSJ).The AFSJ is one of the fastest-developed policyarea in the EU and a key area of EU policy,covering a wide range of issues related to thefree movement of people, asylum andmigration, police and judicial cooperation, andcounterterrorism. The course will examine thehistorical evolution of the AFSJ, the changesbrought forward by the Treaty of Lisbon, thepresent institutional framework, and the policyinstruments and measures adopted by the EUin this area. In addition, it will examine aselection of substantive rules that governmobility and security in Europe.
The course is scheduled in 13 weeks as follows:
Week 1: Introduction. Overview of the historical background and evolution of the AFSJ – from Maastricht to Amsterdam. The “Lisbonisation” of the AFSJ – the fall of the “pillar” system. Key actors and institutions involved in the AFSJ.
Week 2: Free movement of persons. The right to free movement within the EU. The role of EU institutions in ensuring the free movement of persons. Challenges and debates surrounding free movement.
Weeks 3-4: Asylum and refugee policies. The EU’s asylum and refugee policies. The Dublin system and its implementation. The gradual transformation of asylum into a EU policy, driven by member states.
Week 5: The “constitutionalisation” of the AFSJ. The relationship between the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the AFSJ. The gradual mainstreaming of rights in AFSJ policies.
Week 6: The protection of human rights within the AFSJ. Analysis of case law in the context of the AFSJ.
Week 7: Police and Judicial Cooperation. The EU’s police and judicial cooperation policies. The role of Europol and Eurojust. The challenges and debates surrounding police and judicial cooperation.
Week 8: Counterterrorism. The EU’s counterterrorism policies. The role of the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC). The impact of terrorism on the EU and its member states.
Week 9: Data protection. Introduction to the EU data protection and its principles. Data protection applicable in the judicial and police cooperation in criminal matters.
Week 10: Legal migration. The slow development of legal migration policies. The weak Europeanisation of legal migration. v impact of EU priorities on legal migration.
Week 11: Judicial cooperation. The gradual increase of judicial cooperation in the EU. The European Public Prosecutor. The gradual creation of a European civil law space.
Week 12: Challenges and Opportunities. Examination of the challenges and opportunities presented by the AFSJ. Towards a single European Asylum status? Assessment of the future of the AFSJ.
Week 13: Conclusion and Final Exam. Review of key themes and issues covered in the course. Final exam covering all course material.
For further information on the course see https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600229040