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European Community Policies

Code: 101107 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2500259 Political Science and Public Management OT 3
2500259 Political Science and Public Management OT 4
2503778 International Relations OB 3
2504216 Contemporary History, Politics and Economics OT 3
2504216 Contemporary History, Politics and Economics OT 4

Contact

Name:
Ana Mar Fernandez Pasarin
Email:
ana.fernandez.pasarin@uab.cat

Teachers

Irina Ciornei

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

A prior knowledge of the process of European integration and, in particular, of the European institutional system, will be positively valued. Active and passive knowledge of the English language is required.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to understand the functioning of the EU's system of government, the development of the European public policies and the impact that they produce in the Member States.


Competences

    Political Science and Public Management
  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  • Analysing public policies, both in their elaboration and implementation processes.
  • Applying the discipline's main theories and different fields to real practical and professional problems.
  • Applying the knowledge of the Public Administrations on its various levels to practical and professional concrete cases.
  • Arguing from different theoretical perspectives.
  • Assess the social, economic and environmental impact when acting in this field of knowledge.
  • Demonstrating the understanding of intergovernmental relationships and identifying the position of Public Administrations in the political system.
  • Describing and understanding the functioning of the Public Administration on a state, sub-state and supranational level.
  • Develop critical thought and reasoning and be able to communicate them effectively, both in your own language and second or third languages.
  • Develop strategies for autonomous learning.
  • Distinguishing the discipline's main theories and different fields: conceptual developments, theoretical frameworks and theoretical approaches underlying the discipline's knowledge and different areas and sub-areas, as well as their value for the professional practice through concrete cases.
  • Identifying sources of data and conducting bibliographic and documentary searches.
  • Interpreting and applying English texts in an academic way.
  • Make changes to the methods and processes of the area of knowledge to provide innovative responses to the needs and wishes of society.
  • Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
  • Producing and planning researches or analytical reports.
  • Showing a good capacity for transmitting information, distinguishing key messages for their different recipients.
  • Synthesizing and critically analysing information.
  • Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
  • Using different tools for the analysis and explanation of the formulation, decision, implementation and evaluation processes in public policies.
  • Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.
  • Working autonomously.
  • Working in teams and networking, particularly in interdisciplinary conditions.
    International Relations
  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  • Analyse the behaviour of international actors, both state and non-state.
  • Analyse the structure and operation of international institutions and organisations (political, economic, military and security, environmental, development and emergency aid) both in the universal and regional spheres, with particular emphasis on the European Union, from either real or simulated cases.
  • Apply quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in research processes.
  • Identify data sources and carry out rigorous bibliographical and documentary searches.
  • Make changes to methods and processes in the area of knowledge in order to provide innovative responses to society's needs and demands.
  • Produce and prepare the presentation of intervention reports and/or proposals.
  • Take account of social, economic and environmental impacts when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
  • Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
  • Use metatheoretical data to argue and establish plausible relation of causality and establish ways of validating or rejecting them.
    Contemporary History, Politics and Economics
  • Describe and analyse the functioning of public administrations on different territorial scales.
  • Explain and summarise knowledge acquired in English language at an advanced level.
  • Identify the main actors, structure and functioning of political systems in the internal and international sphere from a theoretical or applied perspective.
  • Manage and apply data to solve problems.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Work cooperatively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams implementing new projects.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  2. Analyse how the EU and other actors manage the problems posed by the promotion of democracy and the rule-of-law state in the world.
  3. Analyse the day-to-day function of the EU and the role of different actors in drawing up policies.
  4. Analyse the indicators of sustainability of academic and professional activities in the areas of knowledge, integrating social, economic and environmental dimensions.
  5. Analyse the role of different actors in the formulation of political policies.
  6. Analyse the sex- or gender-based inequalities and the gender biases present in one's own area of knowledge.
  7. Analysing public policies, both in their elaboration and implementation processes.
  8. Apply quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in research processes.
  9. Applying the discipline's main theories and different fields to real practical and professional problems.
  10. Applying the knowledge of the Public Administrations on its various levels to practical and professional concrete cases.
  11. Arguing from different theoretical perspectives.
  12. Assess the social, economic and environmental impact when acting in this field of knowledge.
  13. Communicate using language that is not sexist or discriminatory.
  14. Consider how gender stereotypes and roles impinge on the exercise of the profession.
  15. Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
  16. Critically analysing the configuration process of the public agenda.
  17. Demonstrate initiative and work independently when required.
  18. Demonstrating good writing skills in different contexts.
  19. Demonstrating the understanding of intergovernmental relationships and identifying the position of Public Administrations in the political system.
  20. Describing and understanding the functioning of the Public Administration on a state, sub-state and supranational level.
  21. Designing data collection techniques, coordinating the information processing and meticulously applying hypothesis verification methods.
  22. Develop critical thought and reasoning and be able to communicate them effectively, both in your own language and second or third languages.
  23. Develop strategies for autonomous learning.
  24. Differentiate between the main theories of the discipline and its different fields: conceptual developments, theoretical frameworks and approaches that provide the basis for knowledge of the discipline and its different areas and sub-areas as well as their value for professional practice through case studies.
  25. Distinguishing the phases of public politics: formulation, decision, implementation and evaluation.
  26. Evaluate the impact of different actors and the rules of operation in the formulation of EU policies.
  27. Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
  28. For real and simulated case studies analyse the implementation of community and intergovernmental policies in the EU and their posterior application.
  29. Identify data sources and carry out rigorous bibliographical and documentary searches.
  30. Identify the principal forms of sex- or gender-based inequality and discrimination present in society.
  31. Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within the area of your own knowledge.
  32. Identifying sources of data and conducting bibliographic and documentary searches.
  33. Interpreting and applying English texts in an academic way.
  34. Make changes to the methods and processes of the area of knowledge to provide innovative responses to the needs and wishes of society.
  35. Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
  36. Produce and prepare the presentation of intervention reports and/or proposals.
  37. Producing and planning researches or analytical reports.
  38. Properly explaining and describing main theoretical approaches of the analysis of political sciences: cycle of politics, actor-network, institutional approaches, rational choice theory.
  39. Propose new experience-based methods or alternative solutions.
  40. Propose new ways to measure success or failure when implementing ground-breaking proposals or ideas.
  41. Propose projects and actions in accordance with the principles of ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights, diversity and democratic values.
  42. Propose projects and actions that incorporate the gender perspective.
  43. Propose viable projects and actions that promote social, economic and environmental benefits.
  44. Propose ways to evaluate projects and actions for improving sustainability.
  45. Realising effective oral presentations that are suited to the audience.
  46. Showing a good capacity for transmitting information, distinguishing key messages for their different recipients.
  47. Suggesting and explaining a case study of a concrete public policy.
  48. Synthesizing and critically analysing information.
  49. Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
  50. Use metatheoretical data to argue and establish plausible relation of causality and establish ways of validating or rejecting them.
  51. Use techniques of analysis for the functioning of universal institutions, in particular those of the European Union, in its day-to-day operations and its task of promoting aid for development and the promotion of democracy and the rule-of-law state.
  52. Using different tools for the analysis and explanation of the formulation, decision, implementation and evaluation processes in public policies.
  53. Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.
  54. Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.
  55. Weigh up the risks and opportunities of one's own ideas for improvement and proposals made by others.
  56. Working autonomously.
  57. Working by using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in order to apply them to research processes.
  58. Working in teams and networking, particularly in interdisciplinary conditions.

Content

 
The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject. In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies.
 
 PART I. CONCEPTS AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
 
Unit 1. The The political nature of the EU 

Unit 2. The EU as a public policy provider

Unit 3. European policies and the exercise of power: typology and main interpretating theories

Unit 4. European policies: funding, elaboration, decision and implementation at the EU and domestic levels


PART II. ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC/SECTORIAL PUBLIC POLICIES

Unit 5. EU Budget and public policies

Unit 6. Internal Market and Economic governance

Unit 7. Competition policy

Unit 8. Cohesion policy

Unit 9. Agricultural and rural development policy

Unit 10. Commercial policy

Unit 11. Environmental, energy and climate change policy

 

Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lectures and seminars 55 2.2 1, 16, 25, 32, 33, 37, 48, 52, 56
Oral presentation 18 0.72 11, 13, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 46, 47, 48, 50, 53, 56, 58
Paper 30 1.2 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58
Type: Supervised      
Individual and collective tutorial hours 15 0.6 10, 32, 33, 47, 48, 52, 58

The proposed teaching methodology and evaluation activities may undergo some modifications depending on the health authorities' attendance restrictions.
 
In principle, this course combines:
 
1) Guided activities:
 
Theoretical classes with contradictory debates on different European news topics and discussion seminars on compulsory readings.
 
2) Supervised activities:
 
Individual tutorials or by group 
 
3) Autonomous activities:
Writing of a final paper

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exam 50% 2 0.08 1, 7, 9, 10, 16, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 38, 52
Oral presentation 20% 10 0.4 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 16, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58
Paper 30 20 0.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58

The evaluation is based on:
 
1. Individual or group work of max 3 students on one of the topics of the subject: 30%
 
3. Oral presentation: 20%
 
4. Exam: 50%
 
 
Plagiarism detection will imply the grade of suspension in the course.
 
 
Students will have the right to retake the final exam of the course if 1) they have been evaluated on all the activities, the weight of which is at least 2/3 of the total grade of the course; 2) the final grade obtained in the first evaluation is equal to or higher than 3.5/10. The maximum mark in case of re-evaluation will be 5/10.
 

Single assessment procedure:

Single assessment means a single assessment date but not a single assessment activity. It must be competency-based, i.e. through the assessment activities the student must demonstrate that he/she is capable of carrying out the tasks set out in the subject and these activities must have the same level of demand as those that form part of the continuous assessment. Consequently, to ensure that the single assessment accredits the achievement of the objectives and learning outcomes set in each subject, it is recommended that there should be a minimum of three assessment activities, two of which should be of different types.

Assessment activities (Single assessment date/AU):

-Essay on the compulsory readings: 20%

-Written work: 30%

-Exam: 50%

 

In accordance with article 117.2 of the Academic Regulations of the UAB, the evaluation of repeating students may consist of a single proof of synthesis. The repeat students who wish to take up this possibility will need to contact the faculty at the beginning of the course.
 

Bibliography

At the beginning of the course, a list with compulsory readings will be uploaded on the campus virtual.

Remedial readings:

ARREGUI, J. (ed.) (2023) Europeanisation of Public Policies in Spain (Madrid: McGraw Hill).

BOMBERG, E., J. PETERSON and A. STUBB (eds) (2008), The European Union: How Does it Work?, (Oxford:Oxford University Press).

BULMER, S. et al. (2021) The Politics in European Union (Oxford: Oxford University Press), fifth ed. Also Available in Ebook.

BULMER, S. and LEQUESNE, Ch. (2020), The Member States of the EU (Oxford: Oxford University Press), 3rd ed.

HIX,S. and B. HOYLAND (2022), The Political System of the European Union (London: Palgrave Macmillan). 4th ed.

HEINELT, H. and MÜNCH, S. (2018) Handbook of European Policies, (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar)

NUGENT, N. (2010), The Government and Politics of the European Union, (London:Palgrave Macmillan)

PETERSON, J. & SHACKLETON, M. (2006) The Institutions of the European Union (Oxford: Oxford University Press).

VAN MIDDELAAR, L. (2014) The passage to Europe: How a Continent became a Union (Yale: Yale University Press)

WALLACE, H. et al. (2020) Policy-making in the European Union (Oxford: Oxford University Press). 8th ed.

 

 Journals:

 

Journal of European Integration

Journal of Common Market Studies

Journal of European Public Policy

West European Politics

Public Administration

 

 


Software

N/A


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 English second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 English second semester morning-mixed