ENLIGHT Courses

International and European Procedure

The aim of this course is to familiarize students with the general principles of international and European civil procedure. First, analyses procedural rules coming from the European Union law, as well as the influence of the European Convention on Human Rights on civil procedure. In addition, the course focuses on the rules of procedure originating from international and intergovernmental organizations (such as the Hague Conference on Private International Law).

About the course

Content

  • Introduction: The internationalization and Europeanisation of the law of civil procedure
  • Solving international & EU cross-border disputes through the courts
  • Out-of-court dispute resolution: arbitration, mediation & consumer ADR
  • Service of documents V. Taking of evidence
  • The EU unified procedures
  • Digitisation of EU civil procedural law
  • Collective proceedings
  • Access to courts, costs & funding
  • Strategic litigation
  • The Influence of the case law of the CJEU on national procedural law

Learning outcomes

  1. To have a good knowledge of the applicable treaties and legislation in the field of international and European civil procedure, including to the relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
  2. To reflect critically on issues that arise in this field, taking into account the ever-advancing legal rules and case law.
  3. To recognize and analyze problems that arise in the application of rules of civil procedure in a cross-border context
  4. To build a legal reasoning with respect to a procedural issue
  5. To solve specific cases in which various legal questions arise.
  6. To apply (evolving) legal rules in new, concrete and complex situations.
  7. To defend own solutions orally and in writing       

Teaching methods

Group work, Lecture, Independent work

Extra information on the teaching methods:

Guided self-study, Lecture, lecture: plenary exercises, short presentation by students.

Assessment

Assessment moments: end-of-term assessment
Examination methods in case of end-of-term assessment during the first examination period: Oral assessment
Examination methods in case of end-of-term assessment during the resit examination period: Oral assessment

Facilities for Working Students:
Possibility of exemption from attendance with substitute assignment after consultation with the lecturer Possibility of oral examination with written preparation at another time within the academic year.  Possibility of feedback by appointment during and after office hours. participate in all evaluations, the final score cannot be deliberated. Please also note that there is no second evaluation possible for the oral exam.

Lecturers

Vandenbussche, Wannes: lecturer-in-charge

Course dates

This course takes place in the second semester of academic year 2025-2026:

  • Educational activities: February 9 to May 16, 2026
  • Catch-up activities: May 18 to May 23, 2026
  • Easter Recess: April 6 to April 18, 2026
  • Examination period: May 26 to July 4, 2026
  • Resit Examination period: August 17 to September 12, 2026

There will be one online lecture per week from February 9, 2026, to May 16, 2026. This will take place on Tuesdays from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm CET (to be confirmed). Lectures will be recorded.

  • Entry requirements: knowledge of the law of civil procedure and private international law
  • Type: virtual course
  • Level: Master
  • Host: Ghent University
  • Focus area: Global Engagement
  • Study Field: Economics and Law
  • Course dates: 9 Feb - 4 July 2026
  • Apply by: 19 December 2025
  • ECTS: 4
  • Registration status: Open
  • Number of places available: 10 in total