Class European Union Common Policies

This Curricular Unit Common Policies of the European Union aims to provide students with a comprehensive analysis of the policy-making processes in the context of one of the most complex institutional regions in the world, both because of the structuring nature of these policies on the governing system of the EU and because of their scope of action at European and international level. This course aims to describe and analyse these two aspects, focusing on the levels of competences, objectives, functioning, evolution, and relationship of between EU policies with European and international institutions. EU common policies have evolved towards greater convergence, solidarity and subsidiarity in an attempt to respond to the climate emergency, the migration crisis, pandemic management and the adoption of artificial intelligence, for instance. They have established themselves as tools for regulation and agreement in public and private issues in a demanding, diverse and global context.

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I. Concepts and overviews 1.1 Politics, public policies and common EU policies 1.2 Formulation of common policies – main theories and models 1.3 Organisational categories and political involvement – cooperation, integration, solidarity and subsidiarity   II. Governance in the European Union 2.1. The EU as a complex political arrangement – integration processes and European policies 2.2. The Treaty of Rome and common policies 2.3. The internal market – evolution, difficulties and changes   III. Common EU policies 3.1. Trade policy – meaning and importance 3.2. Transport policy – evolution, objectives and challenges of mobility 3.3. Common Agricultural Policy – definition, evolution, restructuring and changes 3.4. Industrial policy – evolution and importance 3.5. Social policy and education – scope, development and future impacts 3.6. Global challenges and EU responses – sustainability, war, new technological era, political participation

In addition to the sessions dedicated to providing students with the key concepts and theoretical framework specific to this curricular unit European Union Common Policies, this course adopts a mixed pedagogical approach - TBL (team based learning) and PBL (project based learning). Through the formation of working groups, students are encouraged to develop group projects and/or activities, in which they are guided by the lecturer to (1) define objectives, strategies and deadlines, (2) practise negotiation, debate and reflect on the problems proposed, (3) critically evaluate and present the results clearly. With a focus on group presentations, critical discussion of texts and written work, students are placed at the centre of the learning process.

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