The EU External Relations Law course fits within the general objective of the Master Programme in European Legal Studies to provide the students with an advanced training on the legal dimension of European integration. In particular, the course aims at equipping the students with an in-depth knowledge of the legal regime of the conduct of international relations by the European Union (EU).

The external action of the EU has consistently grown in scope and relevance over time and is today an essential component of many EU policies (no only trade, development cooperation, foreign policy, but also migration, environment, labour conditions, etc.). The EU exercises its competences through various tools (conclusion of international agreements, adoption of unilateral acts, participation in international organizations, etc.), often through or alongside its Member States. Such activity affects the life of the international society and the Member States' exercise of external and internal sovereignty. Understanding the legal framework of EU external relations is therefore essential for advanced students wishing to specialise in EU or international law or in EU affairs.

The course combines a theoretical approach with practice-oriented analysis of cases and addresses the subject from the intertwined perspectives of EU law and international institutional law.

The course is closely connected to other initiatives and learning opportunities offered by the Law Department and the Master Programme, such as the Diploma on Migration Studies, the Moot Courts project, the clinical programme and other mandatory or elective courses.