European Business Law: Doing Business in Europe

About this course: This six-week course titled Doing Business in Europe is the second in a series of three exploring some of the main business aspects of European Union law. Besides providing learners with a sound knowledge base of European laws and regulations relevant to establishing and managing a company within the European Union, the course also explores business considerations within a broader perspective by including inputs from leading law practitioners in the field. More specifically, the course discusses strategic and financial considerations within Company law, as well as Labour law issues such as restructuring enterprises, working conditions and handling crises situations. The course also examines other legal areas such as Tax law, Environmental law and Private International law, and how they tie in to doing business in Europe. At the end of this course, you will have a basic understanding of how to: · Understand the relevant regulations governing the internal European Union market · Establish and run a company within the European Union · Employ staff and recognize workers’ rights and obligations · Comply with tax regulations and environmental standards · Set up agreements and resolve cross-border disputes · Successfully analyse EU case law and draft case reports About the Series The Lund series in European Business Law ranges from considering the basic structures and principles of the European Union to focusing on specialized areas of European Union law. The first course, Understanding the Fundamentals, examines the core structures and principles of the European Union. The third and final course, Competing in Europe, goes into depth concerning how to compete on the internal market and protect your brand, product or invention. All three courses can be taken independently or in sequence depending on your needs and preferences. To keep up to speed on the course series, visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/eblmooc/ Syllabus and Format Each course consists of a number of modules where one module represents about one week of work. A module includes a number of lectures and readings, and finishes with an assessment – a quiz or a peer graded assignment. The assessments are intended to encourage learning and ensure that you understand the material of the course. Participating in forum discussions is voluntary. Course I - Understanding the Fundamentals Module 1. Introduction Module 2. Legal Method and Sources Module 3. Constitutional Freedoms and Fundamental principles Module 4. Freedom of Movement Module 5. The External Dimension Course II - Doing Business in Europe Module 1. Making Business Transactions Module 2. Establishing a Company Module 3. Employing and Working in Europe Module 4. Paying Taxes and Complying with Environmental Standards Module 5. Case Clinic Module 6. Resolving Cross-border Disputes Course III - Competing in Europe Module 1. Obtaining Trademarks Module 2. Defending Patents Module 3. Competition: Illegal Agreements Module 4. Competition: Abuse of Dominance and Mergers Module 5. Advocacy and Legal Writing Module 6. Selling to the State and State Aid Lund University Lund University was founded in 1666. The Faulty of Law is a modern faculty with an international profile, welcoming both international and Swedish students. The university offers two international Masters: European Business Law and Human Rights Law. The former provides an in-depth understanding of both the practical and the theoretical aspects of business law within the European Union. The programme provides both general and specific knowledge of the European Union legal framework, which is necessary for students intending to work as legal advisors or business decision-makers. Education, research and interaction with the surrounding community are the main focus of the Faculty’s work. The connection between the three is particularly apparent in the programmes and courses offered by the university, including the university’s MOOC course in European Business Law. The students get the chance to engross themselves in traditional legal studies, while interacting with both researchers and professionally active lawyers with qualifications and experience from various areas of law.

Who is this class for: The course is useful to persons both inside and outside the European Union, whether they are students, professionals, or simply interested in the European Union and/or European Business Law. The series is ideal for entrepreneurs and businessmen/women who plan to work or do business in a European context and want to sharpen their competitiveness. For lawyers it is a great course to take in order to refresh European Union law or to gain an understanding of law in the context of European business. Those preparing for a legal career will also benefit from the course as it gives a good understanding of European Union law while including lectures by some of the most leading academics and practitioners in the field. Prior knowledge of law and the European Union is an advantage, but not a prerequisite. If you have taken our introductory course on Understanding the EU Fundamentals you might however have a bit of head start.

Created by:  Lund University

• Taught by:  Julian Nowag, Senior Lecturer

  Faculty of Law

• Taught by:  Hans Henrik Lidgard, Senior Professor

  Faculty of Law

• Taught by:  Xavier Groussot, Pro Dean and Professor

  Faculty of Law

• Taught by:  Mia Rönnmar , Dean and Professor

  Faculty of Law

• Taught by:  Cécile Brokelind, Professor

  Department of Business Law

• Taught by:  Sanja Bogojevic, Associate Professor

  Faculty of law

• Taught by:  Michael Bogdan, Senior Professor

  Faculty of Law

• Taught by:  Niklas Arvidsson

Commitment 6 weeks of study, 10-15 hours/week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.7 stars Average User Rating 4.7See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Lund University Lund University was founded in 1666 and for a number of years has been ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. The University has 47 700 students and 7 500 staff based in Lund, Sweden. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Making Business Transactions



The first module examines general business considerations as well as specific legal areas that are relevant when establishing and managing a company. It examines the complexities that arise when contracts have international components and the benefits of collaborating with middlemen. It concludes by considering contracts of transportation and its relationship with sale contracts.


7 videos, 7 readings expand

1. Video: Welcome to the Course
2. Reading: Course Instructions
3. Reading: Synopsis
4. Video: Strategic Choices
5. Reading: Strategic Choices
6. Video: Contractual Arrangements in Europe
7. Reading: Contractual Arrangements in Europe
8. Video: General International Sales Conditions
9. Reading: General International Sales Conditions
10. Video: Operating through Middlemen
11. Reading: Operating through Middlemen
12. Video: Transportation and Insurance
13. Reading: Transportation and Insurance
14. Video: A Practitioner's View-Anders Steen

Graded: Making Business Transactions

WEEK 2


Establishing a Company



The second module examines the foundations of company theory and the agency theory. It looks into the distinction between a company’s internal/external relations, as well as public/private corporations. Finally, the module examines the harmonisation of company law on a EU level, including company law directives as well as the effect of the free-movement/establishment provisions on national company laws.


6 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Video: Developing a Strategy
2. Reading: Developing a Strategy
3. Video: Fundamental Company Law Concepts
4. Reading: Fundamental Company Law Concepts
5. Video: The European Framework for Company Law
6. Reading: The European Framework for Company Law
7. Video: Running a Company
8. Reading: Running a Company
9. Video: Company Governance and Control
10. Reading: Company Governance and Control
11. Video: A Practitioner's View-Mikael Wahlgren

Graded: Establishing a Company

WEEK 3


Employing and Working in Europe



The third module places Labour law within a wider EU framework. It explores the important relationship between the internal market, the fundamental freedoms and national Labour law regulations. It focuses on the freedom to provide services, the freedom of establishment and the right to collective action. It also goes into further detail about how Labour law regulates employment rights and Equality law.


7 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Reading: Introduction
3. Video: Restructuring Enterpises and Information
4. Reading: Restructuring of Enterprises
5. Video: Equality Law
6. Reading: Equality Law
7. Video: Flexible Working Conditions
8. Reading: Flexible Working Conditions
9. Video: Freedom to Provide Services
10. Reading: Freedom to Provide Services
11. Video: Crisis
12. Video: A Practitoner's View-Jenny Welander Wadström

Graded: Employing and Working in Europe

WEEK 4


Paying Taxes and Complying with Environmental Standards



The fourth module covers Tax and Environmental law issues within the framework of doing business in Europe. It describes the EU law principles on the area of tax and the conditions that need to be fulfilled by national taxation measures to comply with EU law. The module includes a final lecture on Environmental law and how its provisions depending on the situation might both create barriers to trade and/or enhance economic prosperity.


7 videos, 6 readings expand

1. Video: Tax Law Policy
2. Reading: Tax Law Policy
3. Video: Regulating taxation in the EU
4. Reading: Regulating Taxation in the EU
5. Video: Indirect Taxation
6. Reading: Indirect taxation
7. Video: Direct Taxation
8. Reading: Direct Taxation
9. Video: Complying with Environmental Standards
10. Reading: Complying with Environmental Standards
11. Video: Identifying Environmental Standards
12. Reading: Identifying Environmental Standards
13. Video: A Practitoner's View- Tonie Persson

Graded: Paying Taxes and Complying with Environmental Standards

WEEK 5


Case Clinic



The Case Clinic will equip learners with the necessary skills to read and understand case law, and in particular the case law of the European Union. It will present techniques on how to read cases and the most commonly used format to write case reports. The module will develop the learners’ analytical and drafting skills, requesting them to analyze a case and draft a summary. The module concludes with a voluntary peer-graded assignment in the form of a case report.


5 videos, 2 readings expand

1. Reading: Compendium Week 5
2. Video: Introduction to the Case Clinic
3. Video: Reading Cases
4. Video: How to Write a Case Report
5. Video: A Summary of the Case
6. Video: A Practitioner's View- Jeffrey Atik
7. Reading: Courage vs. Crehan

Graded: Case Clinic

WEEK 6


Resolving Cross-border Disputes



The sixth module discusses how Private International law considerations are necessary for the proper functioning of the internal market. It also examines the legal basis of EU’s legislative competence regarding Private International law. Business relationships and disputes often have international implications. Therefore, the module examines how to determine which country’s legal system is applicable and the regulations guarding procedural situations that have an international character.


6 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Video: What is Private International Law?
2. Reading: What is Private International Law?
3. Video: Is there a Truly European Private International Law?
4. Reading: Is there truly European Private International Law?
5. Video: Which Courts have Jurisdiction?
6. Reading: Which Courts have Jurisdiction?
7. Video: Which Law Applies?
8. Reading: Which Law Applies?
9. Video: Concluding Remarks
10. Reading: Concluding Remarks
11. Video: A Practitioner's View-Christoffer Monell

Graded: Resolving Cross-border Disputes