The course
“EU criminal law and policy” is 45 hours annual master course embodied in the official curriculum of VMU Faculty of Law. The aim of the module – to deepen the knowledge about the EU impact on the national criminal law of the EU Member States which is still deemed by many students and professionals to be a national field of law.
THE MODULE
The module “EU criminal law and policy” is seen as an activity consisting of the following components: 1)Teaching and research as the main activities; 2)Service to the university and society as supplementary activities. It also includes organization of round table discussions for practitioners and policy makers, open lectures for different groups and attendance of international conferences/seminars by the applicants
ERASMUS+
Set to last until 2020, Erasmus+ doesn’t just have opportunities for students. Merging seven prior programmes, it has opportunities for a wide variety of individuals and organisations.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, NEWS AND EVENTS
The project EU Criminal Law and Policy is over
September, 2020
The Faculty of Law completed the implementation of Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Project EU Criminal Law and Policy. During the project lifetime participates of the project carried out many activities and reached great results: (1) activities were giving mater level course “EU Criminal Law and Policy”, (2) prepared online module “EU Criminal Law and Policy” in English and Lithuanian languages, (3) organized two round table discussions, (4) gave presentations in six scientific conferences, (5) prepared two scientific articles and organized eight opens lecture, (6) participated in for international seminars.
A new article on EU criminal law
September, 2020
The new article “The Principle of Direct Effect in Criminal Law: Theory and Practice” is accepted as the opening article of the journal European Studies (https://obchod.wolterskluwer.cz/cz/european-studies-the-review-of-european-law-economics-and-politics.p5576.html), which recently was included into Scopus database. The paper is questioning if the principle of direct effect could have an impact both to national criminal material law and criminal procedure law. The answer is provided analyzing the substance and content of the principle, looking into the doctrine and the judgments of Court of Justice of the European Union. Afterwards, the actual impact of EU law on national criminal law is evaluated, taking Lithuania as an example.
Online Summer school
June, 2020
Prof. Edita Gruodytė participated from 6 July to 11 July 2020 in Online Summer school “Recent developments on financial crime, corruption and money laundering: European and international perspectives” [duration 50 hours • 3,5 ECTS]. The Summer school was organised by the Research Institute for Transparency, Corruption and Financial Crime of the Law Faculty and the Center for Education and Lifelong Learning of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The open access module on “EU Criminal Law and Policy” in English
Kaunas
May, 2020
Prof. Edita Gruodutė and assoc. prof. Saulė Milčiuvienė created the open access module on “EU Criminal Law and Policy” in English language. The module is available on request on the Vytautas Magnus University Moodle platform. The students are provided with didactic materials, such as course manual, relevant case law, reading materials, slides of the actual lectures and self-tests.The objective of the module “EU Criminal Law and Policy – to enhance understanding of Europeanization of national criminal law, to explain the impact of criminal law of the European Union on national legislation and practical application of national criminal law in accordance with EU guidelines. The module “EU Criminal Law and Policy” will spread the knowledge on EU criminal law and policy through distance learning tools in non-EU member states.
A new article on EU criminal law
We are glad to announce that recently the article The Influence of the Court of Justice of the European Union on the Issuance of European Arrest Warrants in Lithuania was published in the journal Baltic Journal of Law & Politics. The focus of the paper is the institutional configuration and corresponding regulation after the CJEU decided that (1) the Ministry of Justice cannot be considered a judicial authority because as part of the executive branch it cannot guarantee the protection of the parties’ fundamental rights; (2) however, the Prosecutor General of Lithuania can be considered a judicial authority because it participates in the administration of criminal justice and is independent of executive governance and because its decisions to issue European arrest warrants are subject to judicial review.
https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/bjlp/12/2/article-p97.xml.
The online lecture „IT threats and responsibilities“
Kaunas
30th of March, 2020
On the 30 of March 2020 prof. Edita Gruodytė gave the online lecture „IT threats and responsibilities“. The target group of the lecture was gymnasium students.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqBI_R6S4SY&feature=youtu.be
An annual master course on “EU Criminal Law and Policy”
Spring semester, 2020
In 2020 spring semester already the third time was given an annual master course on “EU Criminal Law and Policy” at Vytautas Magnus University Law faculty. The aim of the course – to deepen the knowledge about the EU impact on the national criminal law of the EU Member States which is still deemed by many students and professionals to be a national field of law. The course provides in-depth and systemic teaching on EU Criminal Law and Policy while methodological instruments employed in the course help to develop critical thinking, application of theory to practical cases and situations, i.e. finding of solutions.
Visit of the lawyer-linguist Sigita Bružaitė
March 5, 2020.
On the 5th of March, 2020 the lawyer-linguist Sigita Bružaitė from the CJEU was giving a lecture on the recent CJEU case law in the area of EU criminal law. During the lecture, the principles of mutual trust, mutual recognition and Ne bis in idem were discussed. Aso the issues related to European Arrest Warrant and Human Rights were analyzed.
Prevention of Corruption in Health Care
February 7, 2020
On the 7 of February 2020 prof. Edita Gruodytė gave the lecture “Prevention of Corruption in Health Care” during the training courses for managers of health care institutions and heads of medical audit teams. The information about the project “EU criminal law and policy” and EU role in criminal law was presented during the lecture.
Open lecture on EU criminal law at VMU Faculty of Arts
Vytautas Magnus University
7th of February 2020
Assoc. prof. Saulė Milčiuvienė was giving the open lecture on EU Criminal law on the 7 of February 2020, 3:00 AM – 5:20 PM. The event was held at VMU Faculty of Arts, Gimnazijos str. 7, Kaunas. In the lecture mainly the students from the Faculty of Art participated.
Visit to Bialystok University
The Republic of Poland,
21st of November 2019
Prof. E.Gruodytė was invited by Bialystok university to participate in their organized program „Issues related to the juridical practice of dealing with illegal migrants”. This event was organized as a part of INTERREG V-A Lithuanian and Polish border guard services cooperation project. On November 21, 2019, she together with the college from Bialystok university dr Magdalena Perkowska gave lectures to Lithuanian- Polish state board officers on the following aspects: Legal basis for Polish and Lithuanian cooperation in fighting with illegal migration. Comparison of the Polish and Lithuanian criminal law regulations connected with illegal crossing the border, smuggling human beings, facilitating residence against the law rules. Comparison of the Polish and Lithuanian criminal law rules of the penalization citizens for crimes committed abroad, foreigners, who committed a crime in LT, the principle of territoriality, in particular, the rules of the penalty of the crime trafficking in human beings, if committed on territory few countries.
Visit to Polotsk State University
Republic of Belarus,
28th-28th of October, 2019
On the 25th-28th of September, 2019 prof. Edita Gruodytė together with colleges from faculty participated in international scientific-practical conference “Theoretical and applied issues of pre-trial criminal proceedings”. During the conference prof. E. Gruodytė disseminated information about ongoing Jean Monet Project on the creation of module „EU Criminal Law and Policy” and made the presentation “Freezing of property in pre-trial stage: implementation of EU directive 20014/42 in Lithuania”.
An annual master course on “EU Criminal Law and Policy”
Spring semester, 2019
In 2019 spring semester already the second time was given an annual master course on “EU Criminal Law and Policy” at Vytautas Magnus University Law faculty. The aim of the course – to deepen the knowledge about the EU impact on the national criminal law of the EU Member States which is still deemed by many students and professionals to be a national field of law. The course provides in-depth and systemic teaching on EU Criminal Law and Policy while methodological instruments employed in the course help to develop critical thinking, application of theory to practical cases and situations, i.e. finding of solutions.
the X th international scientific conference PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC SECURITY: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS
April 26, 2019
Saulė Milčiuvienė and Edita Gruodytė were participating in the Xth international scientific conference PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC SECURITY: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS organized by Mykolas Romeris University, Faculty of Public Security, 9th of May, 2019. During the conference they made presentation EVOLUTION OF THE EU COMPETENCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS: GENERAL PRINCIPLES.
Prevention of Corruption in Health Care
April 26, 2019
On the 26 of April 2019 prof. Edita Gruodytė gave the lecture “Prevention of Corruption in Health Care” during the training courses for managers of health care institutions and heads of medical audit teams. The information about the project “EU criminal law and policy” and EU role in criminal law was presented during the lecture
April 26, 2019
The lecture “EU Criminal law and policy” at Medardas Čiobaras Third Age University
April 3, 2019
On the 3rd of April 2019 prof. Edita Gruodytė gave the lecture “EU Criminal law and policy” at Medardas Čiobaras Third Age University. During the lecture, the information about the project and EU role in criminal law was disseminated. The aim of the lecture was to inform students about the EU role in criminal law, the importance of cooperation of the Members States and the EU institutions seeking to prevent serious criminal offences. The lecture was the part of a university graduation ceremony, the 93 students got university graduation diplomas.
April 3, 2019
ROUND-TABLE discussion WITH LITHUANIAN NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN EUROJUST LAIMA ČEKELIENĖ
September 1, 2018
Lithuania national representative in Eurojust Laima Čekelienė participated in a round table discussion on the 1 of September 2018 at Vytautas Magnus University.
During the discussion academics and legal practitioners analyzed the competence, powers, and activities of the Eurojust and the National Members were analyzed. Also Laima Čekelienė gave a short lecture.
AN ANNUAL MASTER COURSE ON “EU CRIMINAL LAW AND POLICY”
Spring semester, 2018
In 2018 spring semester the first time was given an annual master course on “EU Criminal Law and Policy” at Vytautas Magnus University Law faculty. The aim of the course – to deepen the knowledge about the EU impact on the national criminal law of the EU Member States which is still deemed by many students and professionals to be a national field of law. The course provides in-depth and systemic teaching on EU Criminal Law and Policy while methodological instruments employed in the course help to develop critical thinking, application of theory to practical cases and situations, i.e. finding of solutions.
Participation in international conference
May 31, 2018
On 15th of May, 2018 prof. Edita Gruodytė participated in international conference “Drug Policy in Lithuania- roads, pitfalls and tracks”/Lietuvos narkotikų politika- keliai, klystkeliai ir takeliai” organized by NTAKD (Department of Drug, tobacco and alcohol control) together with EMCDDA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction) which took place in Vilnius. It was very important and valuable event, as various actors (representatives of NVO, medicine and legal regulation including academics) gave their opinion regarding drug policy. The newest tendencies in EU were presented by Alex Goosdeel (director of EMCDDA). Successful examples of drug policy were presented by Portugal and Cheque representatives.
The whole material of the event could be found here: https://wwwfr.uni.lu/fdef/actualites/preventing_and_resolving_conflicts_of_jurisdiction_in_eu_criminal_law
Lecture to Lithuanian schoolchildren
May 10, 2018
On 10th of May, 2018 prof. Edita Gruodytė gave lecture to Lithuanian schoolchildren. Professor among other things explained influence of EU law to national criminal law, explained main forms of EU legal acts and spheres in which EU has competence in criminal law issues, gave short historical development of the issue, including overview of cases
Edgar Babanov (C-207/08)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62008CB0207
Maria Pupino (C-105/03)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62003CJ0105
Visit to Polotsk State University
Republic of Belarus
7th-9th of May, 2018
On 7th-9th of May, 2018 prof. Edita Gruodytė together with assoc.prof. Saulė Milčiuvienė went to Polock State university Law faculty where disseminated information about ongoing Jean Monet Project on creation of module „EU Criminal Law and policy“.
PROBLEMS FOR PUBLIC SECURITY: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS
IX International scientific conference
April 12, 2018
Saulė Milčiuvienė and Edita Gruodytė were participating in the 9th international scientific conference PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC SECURITY: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS organized by Mykolas Romeris University, Faculty of Public Security, April 12, 2018. During the conference they made presentation ROLE OF EPPO AND PUBLIC SECURITY: IF GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LAW ARE PRESERVED?
Open lectures
VMU Faculty of Infomatics
13th of April, 2018
Assoc. prof. Saulė Milčiuvienė was giving the open lecture on EU Criminal law on the 13 of April 2018, 11:00 AM – 1:20 PM, The event was held at VMU Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vileikos str. 8, Kaunas. In the lecture mainly the students from the Faculty of Natural participated.
23th of November, 2017
Prof. Edita Gruodytė was giving the open lecture on EU Criminal law on the 23 of November 2017, 8:30 – 11:00 AM, The event was held at VMU Faculty of Informatics, Vileikos str. 8, Kaunas. In the lecture mainly the students from the Faculty of Informatics participated.
EUROPEANIZATION OF NATIONAL LAW: ACHIEVEMENTS, PROBLEMS, CHALLENGES
Participation in international scientific conference
13th of October, 2017
Prof. Edita Gruodytė and assoc. prof. Saulė Milčiuvienė gave presentation in international scientific conference “Europeanization of national law: achievements, problems, challenges, which was organized on 13th of October, 2017 in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Visit to Polotsk State University
Republic of Belarus
6th-7th of October, 2017
On 6th-7th of October, 2017 prof. Edita Gruodytė together with colleges from faculty participated in international scientific- practical conference “Traditions and innovations in law” in the Polotsk State university. The event was for the 50-year anniversary of the university and twenty years of the law faculty.