Rome, Italy - Course Descriptions - European Union Studies

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Objectives

The students are expected to become familiar with the structure, objectives, modes of operation and policies of the EU. The written exams and the professional memo will be evaluated for the degree of practical knowledge that the student is able to demonstrate. The student will be given a specific scenario and will be asked to indicate the most likely outcome as well as the hind facts which might have led to the situation in question. They might also be asked to indicate a proper line of action to lobby the EU in order to impact its decision-making process in a successful way. The students will be tested on their concrete capability to interact with the EU internal structure and staff in order to become either successful lobbyists or skilled EU team players. At the end of the course the student should be able to read a news item, understand its implications, and stand ready to explain its contents to those who have only a superficial knowledge of the EU intricacies.

With the creation of the Single European Market, the ratification and enforcement of the Maastricht Treaty (leading inter alia to the adoption of the euro), the further expansion in the number of member countries (especially of those in Central and Eastern Europe), the on-going ratification process of a new European Constitution, and the creation of economic associations elsewhere in the planet, it is imperative to understand what the European Union is all about, how it functions, how it affects the region's political and economic environment, how it is possible to interact with its decision-making structure and how it might develop in the near future. Special attention will be devoted to the EU's relations with the U.S., China and Russia. The practical implications that current world events might have on the EU integration process will be the object of constant observation.

Syllabus

• From the Treaties of Rome to the Treaty on the European Union, the Nice Treaty and the European Constitution.
• The various forms of economic integration; trade creation and trade diversion.
• The socio-economic impact of a common market.
• The institutions of the EU: the Commission
• The Council of Ministers and the European Council.
• The European Parliament.
• The European Court of Justice and EU legislation.
• The Economic and Social Committee; the Committee of Regions.
• The Single European Market: the lingering obstacles.
• The three pillars of the Maastricht Treaty.
• The EMU and the euro.
• The Common Foreign and Security Policy.
• Home and Justice Affairs.
• Present reality and future prospects.

Recommended Text(s)

J. McCormick, The European Union, Westview Press, 3rd edition, 2004.

Suggested Reading

A. M. El-Agraa, ed., The European Union – Economics & Policies, FT Prentice Hall, 7th edition, 2004.
Students are required to keep abreast of current EU affairs by reading The Economist, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal Europe and BusinessWeek. On a regular basis the instructor will post on his personal website selected news items taken from the above-mentioned media sources.

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