Universität Wien
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210136 SE EC: EU institutions and decision-making (2025W)

(engl.)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 21 - Politikwissenschaft
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 50 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 06.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 13.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 20.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 27.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 03.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 10.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 17.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 24.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 01.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 15.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 12.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 19.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock
  • Monday 26.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (S1), NIG 2. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In this seminar course we will zoom into the European Union’s institutional triangle (Commission, Council of the EU, Parliament) and the decision-making procedures available to them in passing legislation. We will study the evolution of three main and other supporting EU bodies and will critically assess their role in shaping the EU’s legislative space. We will look at the EU’s legislative procedures in detail, we will discuss which policies they are applied to, and we will assess how successful the EU is in legislating these domains. Finally, we will critically assess the EU and its role as a legislator in Europe from an academic and conceptual point of view. We will attempt to answer the question: should the EU be the primary legislator for its 27 member states and why?

This course will be delivered through eight seminars with student participation, one mid-term exam and individual student presentations, furthering diving into the topics covered in class. In addition, students will be expected to submit an academic analysis on one of the empirical topics covered in class through the lens of one of the theories presented.

Upon completing the course, carrying out all assignments conscientiously and participating in class, students should be able to:
• approach and read academic literature on the European Union in a systematic and critical way
• describe the development of the European Union
• describe and explain the EU’s institutions and how they work and interact
• ask research questions with regard to the EU and answer those based on their own research
• carry out analyses and present them orally as well as in writing.

Assessment and permitted materials

Students are required to:
1. attend classes and prepare to participate in discussions based on the compulsory reading and previous classes. In addition, each student will act as a discussant for another student’s presentation. These activities count for 10% of the final grade.
2. deliver one presentation related to their own research. This counts for 30% of the final grade.
3. sit a mid-term exam (1 December). These count for 30% of the final grade.
4. submit a term paper at the end of the term (12 February; 1500 words, +/- 10%) This counts for 30% of the final grade.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students not attending the first class without notification as well as proof (e.g. doctor’s note) will be unsubscribed. Students are allowed to miss a maximum of 2 classes, excluding the first one and the exam session.
If you would like to drop the course, please do so after the first session to allow students from the waiting list to join. Please register via u:space within the registration period. Registration after that period is not possible.

Timely submission of all assignments is a prerequisite to completing the class with a positive grade. Likewise, respecting the standards of good scientific practice as well as the instructions are prerequisites for completing the course successfully. Turnitin will be used to check for potential plagiarism.

You are encouraged to use artificial intelligence tools for language editing only (e.g. DeepL Write) and prohibited from using generative AI for your assignments. To ensure good academic practice, the seminar leader may invite students to a short interview after submission of the seminar paper, which must be completed successfully.

The compulsory literature and class discussions serve as the basis for the exams.

Grading scale:
88-100 Excellent (1)
75-87 Good (2)
63-74 Satisfactory (3)
51-62 Sufficient (4)
0-50 Insufficient (5)

Examination topics

Recommended literature (detailed list will be provided on Moodle in the first week of the semester):

• Wallace, Helen, Pollack, Mark A. and Young, Alasdair R. (eds.) (2025), Policy Making in the European Union, 9th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Cini, Michelle and Pérez-Solórzano Borragán, Nieves (eds.) (2022), European Union Politics, 7th edn., Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Reading list

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 27.07.2026 09:27