European integration and governance: an introduction

M/E for Mundus MAPP students

Elective for One-year MAPP, MAIPA and MPA students

Elective for CCL LL.M. students

Governance Specialization for DPP

The course is an introductory level course which seeks to familiarize students with the EU institutional framework and some of the core decision-making processes and dynamics of European integration and EU governance, as they change over time and across policy contexts. It adopts an interdisciplinary perspective, which brings together and confronts approaches from primarily political sciences, public policy and law. The course critically engages with academic and policy materials which expose and explain the role and functioning of the main EU institutions and bodies (European Commission, European Parliament, European Council and Council of the EU, Court of Justice of the European Union, EU agencies) and core EU decision-making processes (including treaty-making, legislative, regulatory and judicial), situating them within the multi-level governance framework which characterizes Europe today. Throughout, the course engages with selected analytical and theoretical perspectives on European integration and EU governance, and reflects on current and future challenges.

The course caters for students coming from different academic and professional backgrounds and should be of particular interest those who wish to pursue studies or research in European affairs, or envisage a career in EU institutions, diplomatic services, international or regional organizations, international companies or NGOs.

The course proposes a mix of asynchronous elements (ie pre-recorded lectures, reading assignments, material annotations, podcasts listening, videos watching, quizzes, etc) and synchronous interactive seminars, and a simulation exercise.

It is an introductory level course which seeks to familiarise students with key European Union (EU) institutions and decision-making processes, across different policy contexts. It adopts an interdisciplinary perspective, which brings together and confronts political sciences and legal approaches on core issues and aspects of European integration and governance. After an historical overview of European integration since WWII, the course critically engages with academic and policy materials which expose and explain the role and functioning of the main EU institutions and bodies (European Commission, European Parliament, European Council and Council of the EU, Court of Justice of the European Union, other EU bodies and agencies) and core formal EU decision-making processes (including treaty-making, legislative, regulatory and judicial) and more informal dynamics, and situating them within the multi-level governance framework which characterizes Europe today, and the range of policy areas which EU activities cover. Throughout, the course engages with selected analytical and theoretical perspectives on European integration and governance.

It is designed to enable the participants to become familiar with, and have a basic understanding of, the complex EU governance structure and the core dynamics of European integration, whilst honing their analytical skills (in particular through direct engagement with different disciplinary perspectives, theories and methods), and improving their oral and written communication skills (including in an online environment). It caters for students coming from different academic and professional backgrounds, but aims particularly at those who wish to pursue studies or research in European affairs or law, or envisage a career in EU institutions, diplomatic services, international or regional organizations, international companies or NGOs.

The course includes both asynchronous elements (core readings, audio-visual materials, pre-recorded mini-lectures, recorded presentations, etc) and synchronous – interactive – sessions (either in-person or online, depending on the COVID situation evolution), discussing key issues and contrasting disciplinary and professional perspectives. It also features a simulation exercise.

It aims to develop a basic understanding of core institutional features, processes, and dynamics, and key theoretical perspectives, which will be further explored through selected courses.