Class European Union Institutions and Policies

It aims to identify the nature of the flows of power within the Union's institutional web, to explain the specificities of the relationship between the EU and the Member States, and to reflect on the division of competences within the EU.

Not applicable

Module 1: Political theories of European integration 1.1 Neo-functionalism 1.2 Intergovernmentalism 1.3 Federalism 1.4 Neo-institutionalism 1.5 Multi-level governance   Module 2: EU institutions 2.1 European Commission 2.2 European Council 2.3 Council of the European Union 2.4 European Parliament 2.5 Court of Justice   Module 3: Analysis of Common Policies  3.1 Division and exercise of competence - proportionality and subsidiarity. 3.2 Decision-making process: involvement of the European institutions, Community method, co-decision, and the role of interest groups. 3.3 Common policies, original policies, and their current status: CAP, Transport Policy, and Common Commercial Policy. 3.4 Common policies, current policies, and their challenges: Single Market, Integrated Industrial Policy, and European Strategy for Data. 

The teaching-learning process combines classroom learning, theoretical and practical lessons, with independent, individual, and group study. This process is based on e-learning activities and resources made available online (e.g. Moodle), as well as close contact with the teacher. Classes will value interactive teaching-learning dynamics. Student attendance and participation are strongly encouraged. The course uses three written assessment elements (a report and two tests). These forms of assessment also make it possible to evaluate students' ability to understand and apply concepts, structure logically consistent answers and critical arguments, to draw conclusions and implications about the institutions of the European Union and the decision-making process.

Abreu, Joana & Liliana Reis (2020) (orgs.). Instituições, Órgãos e Organismos da União Europeia. Coimbra: Almedina. Cini, Michelle; Borragán, N. Pérez-Solórzano (2019). European Union Politics. 6ª Edição, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Moniz, Jorge Botelho (org.) (2022). O Futuro da União Europeia: Política, Economia, Estado de Direito e Religião. Col. Contributos. Lisboa: Edições Universitárias Lusófonas. Nugent, Neill (2017). The Government and Politics of the European Union. 8th ed. Houndmills: Palgrave MacMillan. Rosamond, Ben. 2000. Theories of European Integration. Houndmills: Palgrave MacMillan. Wallace, Helen, Mark A. Pollack & Alasdair R. Young (2015). (eds.). Policy-making in the European Union. USA: Oxford University Press.