• Understand the EU consumer protection acquis, including relevant treaty articles, directives, and case law. This includes the ability to discuss the differences and interplay between private and public law.
• Be familiar with EU consumer policy and able to relate it to consumer law.
• Be able to apply the legislation to real business-to-consumer situations, including in particular in the area of electronic commerce.

This course enables the student to understand and discuss the consumer law framework for the European Union. The focus is on trade in the Internal Market, including in particular electronic commerce.

The course focuses on all interactions between the business and consumers, including in particular in the context of marketing and contracting. It gives the student a comprehensive understanding of EU consumer protection legislation and its practical and political environment.

Discussions are based on a legal analysis of the relevant treaty articles, directives, case law, and preparatory works. In addition, research from other sciences such as behavioural economics and neuroscience will be introduced to discuss how well consumer policy meets the need of real consumers. Practical aspects of how businesses can comply with the legislation are also discussed.

Discussions will depart from a number of cases which may include issues relating to vulnerable consumers, trustmarks, comparative advertising, right of withdrawal, the »average consumer«, price comparisons, discounts and premiums, promotional lotteries, consumer credit, foodstuff, tobacco, medicinal products, and package information.