PO/EC 246 - European Union Policies in Practice

In this course we will address the question: ‘how do EU policies work in practice?’ Who are the main actors, what are the main processes, dynamics, and explanations for what the European Union does? This course will cover the most important EU policy fields and discuss how they have been put into practice. What the EU does has expanded enormously since its origins in the 1950s. Originally narrowly concerned with establishing a common market, its policy remit has expanded to cover agricultural, monetary, social, immigration, energy, foreign, and security policy. But why do policies emerge looking as they do? Our main goal will be to address these questions in an interactive and comprehensible way. You will gain an understanding of both successful and challenging aspects of EU policy, and the dynamic behind EU and EU Member State competences (exclusive, shared and supported) for policy making and implementation.

NOTE: This course is offered during the regular semester and in the summer. For summer sections, the course schedule is condensed, but the content, learning outcomes, and contact hours are the same.