The EU institutional architecture and

policies
Course tutor(s)
Dr Magdalena Góra

Magdalena Góra is assistant professor at the Institute of European Studies, Jagiellonian

University, Krakow. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the Jagiellonian University,
where she also obtained her MA. Her doctoral thesis (2007) tackled the issues of relations
between Poland and Israel after the Second World War. Her academic interests include
processes of collective identity formation in the context of EU enlargement, the European
Union as an actor in international relations, contemporary Polish foreign policy, and Polish-
Jewish and Polish-Israeli relations.

Description

The course briefly introduces the policies, institutions and history of the European Union in
the context of current world affairs. It is designed exclusively for students with no or minimal
knowledge of the EU affairs prior to reading in preparation for this MA, and its main purpose
is to give those students an opportunity to get familiar with EU institutional basics.

Although the course is not mandatory, it is highly recommended for those who feel they
might need extra hours of instruction to level up with more advanced students they will meet
in class, in autumn semester. On the other hand, for the very same reasons, the students who
had already taken courses in EU affairs are discouraged from attending it.

Number of ECTS points

4,5 ECTS

Prerequisites
The course requires some basic knowledge about the history and politics of Europe. Therefore
before attending the course students are requested to prepare the following subjects:
• Political and economic situation of western European countries after the Second World War
• The origins of the Cold War and the attitudes of western allies toward "the German
question"
• American initiatives to strengthen western Europe (Marshall Plan, creation of the NATO
etc.)
• Contemporary history and politics of selected European countries (Great Britain, France,
Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece)

Moreover, the orientation in current situation in the EU countries will be helpful during the
course. The students are encouraged to read European news services on the regular basis. We
can recommend the following news services and websites:
http://www.europa.eu.int
http://www.europeanvoice.com
http://www.euractiv.com
http://www.euobserver.com

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to understand major trends in
contemporary European affairs; distinguish and understand functioning of the major EU
institutions, EU law system and functioning of European political system. The approach
employed in the module will allow students to gather knowledge both on historical
developments and on the current events and theoretical explanations. It will allow students to
get better level of comprehension of processes undermining contemporary Europe and the
world.
The course then will contribute to development of intellectual skills and enabling students to
participate in the more advanced courses on European and Central and Eastern European
affaires. The knowledge and ability to analyse and synthesise events in the European Union is
the necessary prerequisite to successful studying at the programme especially at the
specializing courses in Central and Eastern European affairs.

Course communication
The students could reach me via e-mail: gora@ces.uj.edu.pl and during office hours on
Wednesdays, 15.00 - 16.30 in room 202.

COURSE ORGANIZATION

The course consists of seminars, which will address a scope of the particular problem
particularly highlighting major concepts, theories and analytical frameworks and identifying
the key issues and an open discussion afterwards based on the assigned reading compulsory
for all students.

Assessment
The final exam consists of the multiple choice questions and open questions in the form of
mini-essay covering the scope of the course. The exam will count towards 70% of the final
grade.
Active class participation and student’s presentation will make up for the remaining 30%.
The assessment of the student’s presentations will include the following elements:
Students’ presentations shall consist of a short weekly events review of the European Union’s
foreign and security policy. The presentation shall be 10 minutes long and cover the most
important events of the last week and an explanation as well as brief background of what has
happened. It should be an original (the author’s) selection of events from EU affairs; the
major criterion of selection is the significance for the further developments of relations in
Europe. Please use only reliable sources of information and pose questions for further
discussion on the mentioned problems.
Content (especially structure, knowledge and understanding of the topic, evidence of research,
the quality of argument), style (i.e. communication, good organisation of time, use of visual
materials, maintaining interest of the group etc.)
 STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE

No. Title of the session Date Format

1. What is the European Union? EU's 14.10 Seminar
uniqueness and the international system.
Present EU challenges.
2. The history of the EU (part I): from the 21.10 Seminar
Schuman Plan to the Treaty of Maastricht
3. The history of the EU (part II): from the 28.10 Seminar
Treaty of Maastricht to the current
developments
4. The EU Enlargement 04.11 Seminar
5. EU as a political and legal system. 18.11 Seminar
6. The institutional architecture of the EU: 25.11 Seminar
Intergovernmental institutions

7. The institutional architecture of the EU: 02.12

European Commission
8. The institutional architecture of the EU: 09.12 Seminar
European Parliament
9. Process of decision-making in the EU 16.12 Seminar

10.EU budget 06.01

11.Selected EU policies in the first pillar 13.01 Seminar

12.EU’s Second and Third pillar 20.01 Seminar

13.Wrapping up 27.01 Seminar

Required reading:
Cini M. (ed.), European Union Politics, Oxford: OUP 2007
Dinan D., Ever Closer Union, NY: Palgrave 2005
George S. & Bache I., Politics in the European Union, Oxford: OUP 2006
Hix S., The political system of the European Union, NY: Palgrave 2005
McCormick J., Understanding European Union, NY: Palgrave 2005