Today's world has become profoundly 'globalised', and this well-noted phenomenon has had a profound impact on the legal order as well. This course focuses on the consequences this development has entailed for the position and powers of international courts and tribunals. In 2015, two such institutions shall be singled out for an in-depth inquiry, namely the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). During the one-week Summer Course organised by the Law School of Radboud University, participants are invited to take part in advanced studies of the contemporary role, function and output of both the ECtHR and the CJEU. In particular, we will hereby zoom in on their recent pronouncements with regard to data protection, and the controversies that have ensued in their wake. All teaching sessions will be delivered by a team of renowned scholars with ample expertise on the subject-matter, as well as a select number of legal practitioners. Moreover, a distinguished lecture shall be delivered by the former European Data Protection Supervisor, Dr. Peter Hustinx. Lastly, two one-day field trips to the ECHR (Strasbourg) and the CJEU (Luxembourg) form part of the programme as well.

Course leader
Prof Dr. H.C.F.J.A. de Waele, Professor of International and European Law

Target group
The 'core group' of participants in this Summer School consists of the 18 (second year Bachelor) students that currently take part in the 'Law Extra' programme of the Radboud Honours Academy. In addition, 12 participants will be invited from partner institutions in the IRUN network (Glasgow, Munster, Budapest and Cracow), as well as from National Taiwan University and Penn State University. Finally, 10 places are reserved for external, fee-paying participants that apply for the general ' Radboud Summer School' 2015, and wish to take part in the programme offered by the Faculty of Law.Entry levelAdvanced Bachelor's Master's PhD It is highly recommended that students have engaged in prior studies in law; they should have successfully completed at least one introductory course outlining the basics of a legal system.

Course aim
After this course you are able to:Understand at least some of the contemporary challenges facing international courts and tribunals Appreciate the legal and political sensitivities that surround the (debates on the) protection of privacy and personal data Discuss the role and functioning of Europe's supranational judicial institutions at an advanced level Critically engage with popular allegations of 'judicial activism', as well as 'Orwellian overstretch'In today's globalised world, judicial decision-making has become more complex than ever before. With increasing frequency, domestic courts are expected to deal with a bewildering variety of claims, derived from a multitude of legal sources stretching beyond the national legal context. International courts and tribunals are confronted with particular challenges, if only because they appear farther removed from the domestic audiences, so that their legitimacy can much more quickly be called into question. Alleged bouts of 'judicial activism' are, consequently, much more heavily frowned upon. In this light, striking a correct balance between the different interests in the cases that come before them seems nigh impossible, with there practically always being at least one powerful 'loser' on the sidelines, willing to see its suspicions confirmed. Conversely, whether it concerns deciding disputes on the scope and content of civil and political rights, transnational environmental litigation, or giving shape to principles of international criminal law, international courts and tribunals have actually been put in place for reasons that continue to be perfectly valid at the present day and time: it is precisely that distance that is expected to guarantee a greater objectivity and non-partisanship, so that trial can at least in ultimo be qualified as fair.The annual Summer School organised at the Faculty of Law of Radboud University focuses on topical issues that have been arriving on the dockets of these international courts and tribunals in recent years. Next to this substantive focus, it offers broader reflections on the institutional challenges facing these courts (legitimacy, workload, etc.). For 2015, the main substantive emphasis is placed on questions and controversies surrounding data protection, comparing and contrasting the latest approaches of different adjudicators. Beyond the academic perspective, the programme also features guest lectures by renowned specialists active in the different jurisdictions. So as to enable a more in-depth look at the experiences with the 'law in action', a field trip to the two European Courts in Strasbourg and Luxembourg forms part of the programme as well.



Credits info
2 ECTS European Credits

Fee info
EUR 350: The fee includes the course fee and accommodation. It also includes the registration fee, course materials, access to library and IT facilities, coffee/tea, lunch, and a number of social activities.Discounts: 10% discount for early bird applicants. The early bird deadline is 1 April 2015 15% discount for students and PhD candidates from partner universities

Radboud University
Address: P.O Box 9102 Nijmegen
Postal code: 6500 HC
City: Nijmegen
Country: Netherlands
Website: http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/
E-mail: radboudsummerschool@ru.nl
Phone: +31 (0)24 8187706