The course encompasses a systematic and comparative overview of European Criminal Law with a special focus on preliminary proceedings (investigation) in current penal legislations. The focus is on organizational and dynamic criminal law features of European Union Law. Another central element of the course will be the human rights protection scheme provided by the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Apart from regulation of the position, rights and duties of the subjects and of the investigation course, regulation of evidence taking, procedural constraint etc. are also taken into account. The program encompasses current topics like the procedural defence of double jeopardy (ne bis in idem) and consular protection for foreign suspects under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). Finally, it also provides a detailed overview of the sources of international criminal law including the structure and working methods of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Special emphasis is put on the fundamental guarantees of rights and freedoms in international sources and constitutional provisions.