040226 SE Political Processes and Governance in the EU (MA) (2019S)

In less than half a year from now, citizens of the European Union will vote for members of the European Parliament. The European elections 2019 take place in an era of Brexit and EU-skepticism. At the same time, they fall together with a new Commission Presidency. What will be the role of the European Parliament in ‘electing’ the new Commission of the European Union? What is the formal decision-making procedure, and how does the de facto politics of nominating the Commission President differ from the Lisbon treaty provisions? Students of this course will learn about the significant role of the European Parliament in current European Union Politics within the context of the upcoming elections in 2019.

Title: EU in Crisis? Actors and Processes (MA)

Summary of the course contents:
Policy-making at the European Union (EU) level is complex given the institutional polyphony that characterises its multifaceted multi-level decision-making processes. All of the EU member states (EUMS) through the EU’s intergovernmental institutions (i.e. European Council, Council) as well as its supranational institutions (e.g. European Commission, European Parliament, etc.) play a crucial role. Also specific policies (e.g. monetary policy) are decided in specialised institutions such as the European Central Bank. Non-states actors, interest groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) try also to shape policy decision.
Social/economic strife (Euro/debt crises, illegal immigration, Brexit, etc.), an environment of heightened Euroscepticism across the EU as well as the spread of populist politics and rise of illiberal democracies have affected the type of solutions offered, which range from more supranational action to rejection of EU and a retreat to national sovereignty.
This course will engage with the above as well as the impact recent crises have had on e.g. the tendency of EUMS to prefer one set of EU institutions over the other (i.e. supranational vs intergovernmental) when it comes to pressing issues requiring swift decision-making in specific policy areas.
Completion of the seminar will enable students to have a deeper understanding of the functions of the EU’s institutions/actors and the processes involved in EU policy/decision-making.

Objective of the course:
The aim of the course is twofold: a) to enable students gain in-depth understanding of the decision-making processes and actors involved in policy-making at the EU level; b) advance students' ability to produce spoken and written analyses in accordance with good academic practices.

Learning outcomes:
• Detailed understanding about processes and actors involved in policy-making at the EU level
• Class is designed to develop students’ analytical/critical thinking and presentation techniques. Research work and essay writing target the improvement of students’ research and academic writing skills. Hence, students will be able to:
o Independently produce spoken and written analyses in accordance with good academic practices,
o Practice on raising good analytical questions relevant to topics provided,
o Plan and present own research, and
o Critically analyse and think conceptually about the processes and actors involved in policy-making at EU level by using reasoned/well-informed arguments.