040229 SE Politikinhalte der EU (MA) (2025S)

The European Union (EU) has become a key agent of change in contemporary policy-making and its policies profoundly affect the lives of people in Europe and around the world. The most commonly known policies to do that are the creation of a single market (~450 million consumers), as well as the creation of the Euro (despite its young age, a powerful international currency). In addition to these economic achievements, the EU has become a serious actor in other areas such as environmental protection, international trade, development aid, international security, etc.
The course will address select common policies that provide the regulatory frameworks within which business is done in the EU as well as offer insights on current trends and challenges. Completion of the seminar will enable students to have a deeper understanding of selected EU policies and their impact within the EU and at the global level.
The classes will be structured as follows: Group presentation - max.30min; Small-group discussions - ~15min; Open class discussion - remaining time.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE COURSE:
The aim of the course is twofold:
a) introduce students to, and gain in-depth knowledge about relevant EU policies;
b) advance students' ability to produce written analyses in accordance with good academic practices.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Understanding of the EU regulatory frameworks (policies of the EU) which determine the way how business is done in the EU (and to some extent globally as well).
o with attention being paid to historical development as well as current regional/global trends and challenges.
• Detailed understanding about selected EU policies with a focus on their internal and external dimensions
• Analytical/critical take on issues currently dominating the discourse on the European integration process
• Awareness about the way in which regional and international implications of the concerned policies/issues impact upon each other
• Each class stresses a specific issue thus, students will gain
o introductory knowledge through compulsory readings and
o in‐depth knowledge through the additional.
• Class is designed to develop students’ analytical/critical thinking and presentation techniques.
• Research work and essay writing target the improvement of students’ research and academic writing skills. Hence, students will learn how to:
o Independently produce written analyses in accordance with good academic practices,
o Plan own research, and
o Critically analyse and think conceptually about EU selected policies/issues by using reasoned/well-informed arguments.
• Strengthens students’ capacity for geographical mobility