1. Syllabus Institutional Framework EU 2013

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INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE EU

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Masters in Civil Society and Local Development at the Prishtina University

(MCSLD, http://www.unipr-mcsld.com )

Sumer semester 2013

GENERAL INFORMATION

Module: Institutional Framework of the EU (10 ECTS)

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Arben Hajrullahu

Location: University of Prishtina, Department of Political Science

Participants: Fourth Semester students of MA studies: Masters in Civil Society and

Local Development

Objectives: This course aims at developing a critical understanding of the specificity

of EU institutional law and more especially of the composition and

competences of EU institutions and the EU decision-making process.

Reference is made to treaty-making, mixed agreements, major policy

areas of EU external relations, and decisions of the European

Commission. Moreover, this course aims to help students to deepen their

understanding into EU integration process, and to develop a critical

thinking about policy oriented and practical options of good governance

and political transparency in the EU and in the west Balkan region.

What is expected of Students?

Students will be expected to read, think, criticize, and form arguments.

That means that students must keep up in their reading assignments

and attend class regularly. Students must be fully prepared at all

times to discuss the readings and concepts from previous lectures.

Readings: Textbooks, readers, online sources (the main readings will be in

English, but some of them may be also in Albanian)

Method: Combined interactive lectures, interactive seminar/tutorial style based

on case studies, guest speakers, final exam.

Course Requirements:Participation; Preparation for the course; In-class presentation of the policy brief (*) 50%

Written exam 50%

The grade percentages are as follows:

Grade Percentages

5 58% or less failed

6 59 - 65 %

7 66 – 72 %

8 73 – 79 %

9 80 – 86 %

10 87% or greater


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Course Description:

The course on Institutional Framework of EU has been structured with the overall objective to

provide students the knowledge necessary to fully understand the most essential aspects of the

process of European integration and its particular relevance for the regions in the EU /

Europe. The overall content of the course will provide knowledge on:

• Fundamental principles of the EU law

• Institutional framework and decision making

• EU sources and law making

• The substantial law of the EU (fundamental freedoms, EU citizenship, competition law,

social policies)

• Political processes in the EU

• Fundamental rights in the EU

• Financial instruments of the EU

• Enlargement and EU neighbourhood policy

Key Readings:

- Helen Wallace, William Wallace, Mark A. Pollack (2011 or 2005): Policy-Making in the

European Union

- Simon Hix (2011 or 2005): The political system of European Union

Further readings:

- Blerim Reka, Arta Ibrahimi (2004): European Studies, (University text book in Albanian)

South Easter European University-SEEU)

- Blerim Reka (2007): EU Constitution, The Rubicon of Supranational

- Berthold Rittberger, Frank Schimmelfennig (eds, 2007): The Constitutionalization of the

European Union- Catherine Moury, Luís de Sousa (eds, 2009): Institutional Challenges in Post-

Constitutional Europe Governing Change

- Ole Elgström, Michael Smith, Thomas Poguntke (eds, 2007): The European Union's Roles

in International Politics Concepts and Analysis

- William Walters, Jens Henrik Haahr (2006): Governing Europe, Discourse,

Governmentality and European Integration

Some online sources:

• http://europa.eu (European Union's server)

• http://eiop.or.at/erpa/ (European research papers Archive)• http://www.euractiv.com

• http://www.europeanvoice.com/

• http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/EPRG/

• http://www.cer.org.uk

• http://www.ceps.be/index3.php

• http://www.iue.it/


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SYLLABUS OUTLINE

I. Introduction into topic, course requirements and outline

Readings:

- Syllabus

- Simon Hix (2005): The political system of European Union (Chapter 1, pp. 1-23)

II. Historical Background of the EU, EU treaties and the concept of European

Integration. The institutions: The European Council; The European Parliament; The

Council; The Commission; Other Institutions and Community Bodies

Readings:

- Helen Wallace, William Wallace, Mark A. Pollack (2005): Policy-Making in the

European Union (Part I: Institutions, Processes, and Analytical Approaches, pp. 3-90)

III. Enlargement, and neighbourhood policy; Political Processes: Political System and

processes of the EU

Readings:

- Simon Hix (2005): The political system of European Union (Part II: Politics, pp. 147-231

& 406-421)

- Helen Wallace, William Wallace, Mark A. Pollack (2005): Policy-Making in the

European Union (Chapter 15,16, and 17, pp. 377-456)

(*) In-class presentation of a policy brief

The in class presentation (in Albanian and/or in English) can be prepared alone or in a group

of maximum three students. In case you decide for a group presentation, it should be clear thatevery student in the group has contributed actively to the presentation and will take part in the

class presentation.

Please choose a topic for the presentation of a policy brief related to the class. Topics need to

be approved by the class instructor via e-mail or in person. Make sure that your presentation

lasts no longer than 15 minutes for each student presenting. Presentations should be

prepared in Power Point.

This is your remit:

Assume that you are a member of staff at the Ministry for EU-integration in a given Western

Balkan country. You have been asked to brief the foreign minister on a particularissue/problem related to one of the topics:

- Achievements and challenges related to rule of law and democratisation in your

Western Balkan country of choice;

- Achievements and obstacles on the EU-integration process in your Western Balkan

country of choice;

- Regional cooperation on the path of the EU-integration.

After you have chosen your topic you will need to include the following elements in your

presentation:

1. An "executive summary" of the problem;2. Supporting information;

3. A set of policy options;


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4. Recommended option/options, and justification for such recommendation/s.

Reading Guidelines:

When preparing your in-class presentation you may find it useful to check your

comprehension of the reading against these study questions.

• What is the author's purpose in writing this piece?

• What are the author's guiding questions?

• What concepts does the author emphasize? How are these concepts defined?

• What are the author's conclusions? Do they seem logical given the evidence provided?Would you draw different conclusions? Why or why not?

• What questions remain unanswered?

Plagiarism:

All work and materials that you submit to the instructor for a grade must be your own work.

Documents

1. Syllabus Institutional Framework EU 2013