European criminal law

The course explores the "European criminal justice system" from the twofold perspective of European Union law and Human Rights protection in Europe. Students will learn about the impact of EU law and Human Rights law on Member States' Criminal law, from the historical roots of the European Communities and the Council of Europe, until the most recent developments in the fields of criminal law and criminal procedure. Lectures will offer a case-focused account of such evolution, through the analysis of leading judgments delivered by the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. Topics addressed will include: the concept of European criminal law, historical evolution and post-Lisbon framework; the protection of fundamental rights in the context of criminal law; Europeanised substantive criminal law; Europeanised procedural criminal law; the role of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights in the criminal law area. Particular emphasis will be given to key-subjects and areas related to matters of pressing societal concern in Europe, such as: smuggling of migrants and humanitarian assistance in the context of the refugee crisis; labor exploitation and abuse of workers; freedom of expression and hate-speech offences; the protection of the environment through Criminal law.