Decision-making in the EU

This course is a prerequisite for understanding integration/disintegration and cooperation in the EU, the role of its main institutions, and how decisions are made. It is designed for both students aiming to work in European/national institutions and those pursuing research in European studies.
The course is divided into four parts.

Part I - A history of EU integration

1. How did we get here?
2. What is the EU?
3. Building the EU. Delegation of powers.
4. The first critical juncture. From Paris to the SEA.
5. The second critical juncture. The post-Maastricht era.
6. How to explain outcomes?
7. Past and current challenges. Key controversies in EU integration.

The widening of the EU. Member States motivations. Why is the EU willing to integrate new Member States?

Part II - Theories of EU integration

Part III – The EU as a political system.

1. Executive politics
2. Legislative politics
3. Judicial politics

Part IV – Decision-making and modes of governance

1. Supranational decision-making
2. Intergovernmental methods
3. Democracy in the EU

Conclusions

The main objective of this course is to provide students with in-depth understanding of the European Union’s (EU) decision-making processes. The course is divided into four parts.

• Part I covers the fundamentals of the EU, including its origins, legal, political and territorial evolution
• Part II focuses on theoretical approaches explaining European integration
• Part III explores the functioning of EU institutions, emphasising their organisation, roles in the decision-making process and it addresses current challenges and key political and academic controversies.
• Part IV examines how policies are made, with a focus on decision-making procedures, interest representation as well as modes of EU governance.

Each part provides examples of key social and political debates facing the EU today.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will acquire the following knowledge and skills:

• a strong understanding of the different stages of the EU integration/cooperation process;
• in-depth knowledge of the roles and organisation of the EU’s main institutions; ability to explain their powers; a good understanding of the inter-institutional relations and the interaction of the EU institutions with the other political and social actors at the European level;
• the ability to analyse and explain the relations between member states and EU’s institutions as well as the dynamics of cooperation and conflict between EU institutions;
• a strong understanding of the decision-making processes at the EU-level, with the ability to explain different decision-making methods and modes of governance.
• critical thinking to analyse and discuss issues related to European integration and major turning points in this process
• a comprehensive understanding of the main controversies related to the EU integration process.
• a strong grasp of transversal concepts/topics such as integration, governance, intergovernmental, supranational, spillover, preferences, modes of governance, sovereignty, policy coordination, consensus, political regime, critical juncture, crisis, politicisation, depoliticization etc.

Required and Corequired knowledge and skills

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Courses requiring this course

The course is composed of lectures. Despite the large number of students (200+), participation is encouraged. Students are invited to ask questions based on either the readings or on lectures.
Students are strongly encouraged to read newspapers and regularly follow current affairs in European politics.

Contribution to the teaching profile

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References, bibliography, and recommended reading

The teaching material is available on the UV.
It is composed of compulsory readings and recommended references, as well as the PowerPoint presentations used in class.

Course notes

• Université virtuelle
• Syllabus

Contacts

Contact:
Prof. Ramona Coman
ramona.coman@ulb.be
Institut d'études européennes, Avenue F. D. Roosevelt 39, 1050 Bruxelles

 

Campus

Solbosch

Method(s) of evaluation

• written examination

written examination

• Closed question with multiple choices (MCQ)

Assessment: Quiz (30%) and written exam (70%)
The quiz will not be offered in a second session (August). Students who did not take the quiz will receive a 0. 
The written exam is organised in January. Students who fail or are absent can retake it in August. 

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

Quiz /multiple choice questions (MCQ) – 30% of the grade

• The quiz brings together 30 questions drawing on the first readings and lectures.

Written exam - 70% of the grade

• The 2h30 written exam evaluates the main learning outcomes.
• Drawing on the compulsory readings and the lectures, students will be invited to respond to two open questions:
  • one related to the functioning and the powers of the EU institutions (2 pages)
  • one related to EU’s modes of governance and decision-making (2 pages)

The exam will assess students’ ability to develop clear and informed arguments, that is to define, analyse and understand EU-related issues, drawing on the course material and compulsory readings.

Language(s) of evaluation

• english