Agricultural law and rural development in Poland, European Union and worldwide: legal and comparative perspective

Timetable

Coll. Iurid. Novum 

Module aim (aims)

The cognitive and teaching aim is for students to gain knowledge of agricultural law and rural development in Poland and the European Union, as well as in selected countries around the world. The analysis of legislation, literature, statistical and practical data will help students to understand how to interpret the law properly and logically, and how to use it skilfully and practically.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

No specific pre-requisites concerning social skills and competences.

Syllabus

Weeks 1, 2: The concept of agricultural law. Basic definitions under the provisions of Polish law. Genesis, evolution and objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy. EU agricultural law, the sources of EU agricultural law, instruments of the common agricultural policy. Definitions and sources of agricultural law in selected countries around the world. Agricultural organizations, e.g. FAO (The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), COPA (The Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in Brussel)

Weeks 3,4: Trade in agricultural real estate (e.g. restriction, permission, sale, donation), agricultural lease, protection of agricultural land in Poland and in selected countries around the world. Polish National Centre for Agriculture Support. EU policy on the protection of agricultural land ( Communication, Directive (EU) 2025/2360 on soil monitoring and resilience)

Week 5: Common Agricultural Policy, Agricultural Law and the Environment; Agricultural markets in the EU and Poland.

Week 6: Co-operatives in agriculture and other forms of association of agricultural producers in Poland, the EU and worldwide

Week 7: Agreements in the agri-food chain, e.g. contracting and sales. Directive (EU) 2019/633  on unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain

Week 8: The system of direct payments in the EU and Poland. Public aid in agriculture.

Week 9: Rural development policy in the EU. Strategic Plans CAP 2023-2027 in different EU countries

Week 10: Rural development and Poland. Spatial planning, EU funding, development of renewable energy sources

Week 11: Insurance in agriculture ( e.g pension and disability; Farmers' liability insurance, compulsory building insurance, crop insurance)

Week 12: Agricultural law and rural development in Switzerland and Austria

Week 13: Agricultural law and rural development in Germany and France

Week 14: Agricultural law and rural development in Canada and other countries in the Americas

Week 15: Trade in agricultural and food products (Poland, EU, and worldwide). Promotion of agricultural products and agricultural product quality systems

Reading list

1. 1 A. Mcmahon, EU Agricultural Law and Policy, 2019
2. G. Holzer, Agrarrecht. System, 5. Auflage, Verlag Österreich/NWV, 2023
3. G. Holzer, R. Norer, Agrarrecht: Jahrbuch 2023
4. J. Martínez, G. Holzer, R. Norer, Grundlagen der Systembildung im Agrarrecht, Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2022. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783748929307
5. R. Norer (ed.), Handbuch zum Agrarrecht, Bern: Schulthess, 2017
6. R. Barents, The Agricultural Law of the EU,2022
7. R. Mögele, F. Erlbacher, Single Common Market Organisation, München 2011
8. A. Saba, Legal Implications of Results-based Agri-Environmental and Climate Commitments in the EU Common Agricultural Policy, Springer 2025
9. K. Anderson, Agricultural Trade, Policy Reforms, and Global Food Security , 2016.
10. 10 A. Suchoń ( ed.), Legal and economic aspect of associations of agricultural producers in the selected countries of the world, ed. Suchoń, Poznań 2020
11. A. Suchoń, Selected Agricultural Law Issues in Switzerland: Agricultural Land Transactions, Tenancy and Financing of Agricultural Activities”. PRAWO I WIĘŹ 2025, no 55 (2) https://doi.org/10.36128/PRIW.VI55.1285
12. A. Suchoń, Legal aspects of the organisation and operation of agricultural co-operatives in Poland, Wyd. UAM, Poznań 2019
13. A. Suchoń, Agricultural law and agricultural activity in Poland after 20 years of membership in the European Union – selected issues: in „Bratislava legal forum 2024“ Bratysława 2024, https://dspace.uniba.sk/bitstream/handle/123456789/231/BPF_2024_europske_pravo.pdf?