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Institutions and Policies of the European Union

Code: 101083
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Political Science and Public Management OB 3
International Relations OB 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
Nuria Font Borras
Email :
nuria.font@uab.cat

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

Students enrolled in the Degree in Political Science and Public Management: It is assumed that students have an adequate knowledge, at least, of the concepts, theories and knowledge covered in the courses “Political Science” and “Administration and Public Policy”. In addition, it is recommended that they have completed and passed the course “Comparative Politics I”.

Students enrolled in theDegree in International Relations: It is assumed that students have an adequate knowledge, at a minimum, of the concepts, theories and knowledge covered in the course “Political Science”. In addition, it is recommended that they have completed and passed the course “Public Policy Analysis”.

Students are assumed to be able to read texts in English. They are also expected to be in the habit of regularly reading the general press, blogs and other sources of current information.

Objectives

This course is compulsory in the third year of the Degree in Political Science and Public Management and in the second year of the Degree in International Relations. Overall, the main objective of the course is for students to become familiar with the main empirical and theoretical references on the European Union and to be able to use them in the analysis and interpretation of European political processes. The more specific objectives are: first, to study the historical process of European integration, the evolution and current functioning of the main political institutions, and interinstitutional relations; second, to analyse the main political dynamics and decision-making processes of the EU through the analysis of some of the most relevant recent political events at the European level; third, to become familiar with institutional data sources on the European Union and learn how to use them to carry out empirical studies; and finally, to understand the main theoretical approaches that currently predominate in the field of European studies.

Learning outcomes

  1. Working in teams and networking, particularly in interdisciplinary conditions.
  2. Identifying sources of data and conducting bibliographic and documentary searches.
  3. Synthesizing and critically analysing information.
  4. Interpreting and applying English texts in an academic way.
  5. Arguing from different theoretical perspectives.
  6. Working by using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in order to apply them to research processes.
  7. Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.
  8. Demonstrating good writing skills in different contexts.
  9. Showing a good capacity for transmitting information, distinguishing key messages for their different recipients.
  10. Realising effective oral presentations that are suited to the audience.
  11. Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
  12. Working autonomously.
  13. Demonstrating the comprehension of the structure and functioning of political systems in the internal and international arena, both in the analytic area and in the elaboration of intervention proposals or public policies.
  14. Connecting the different components that shape the structure and operations of political systems and the environment where they interact.
  15. Demonstrating knowledge about the structure and working of the European Union and its main institutions, as well as identifying the main political actors and recognising the main means of integration.
  16. Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  17. Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  18. Identify data sources and carry out rigorous bibliographical and documentary searches.
  19. Use metatheoretical data to argue and establish plausible relation of causality and establish ways of validating or rejecting them.
  20. Explain the functioning of the European political institutions, their competences and the way in which they draw up their agendas, take political decisions and implement the results.
  21. Reconstruct the decision-making process of community policies and evaluate the results.
  22. Distinguish how member states and the EU implement measures and policies aimed at intervening in globalisation processes.
  23. Develop critical thought and reasoning and be able to communicate them effectively, both in your own language and second or third languages.
  24. Develop strategies for autonomous learning.
  25. Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  26. Make changes to the methods and processes of the area of knowledge to provide innovative responses to the needs and wishes of society.
  27. Assess the social, economic and environmental impact when acting in this field of knowledge.
  28. Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.

Contents

CONTENTS


BLOCK 1. Creation of the European Communities and evolution of the process of European integration


Unit 1. Historical origins of the European Communities. The ECSC, the EEC and EURATOM

Unit 2. The Single European Act and the Maastricht Treaty

Unit 3. The Amsterdam Treaty, the Nice Treaty, the failed 'Constitutional Treaty'

Unit 4. The Lisbon Treaty


BLOCK 2. Main institutions and bodies of the European Union


Unit 5. The European Council

Unit 6. The Council of the European Union

Unit 7. The European Commission

Unit 8. The European Parliament

Unit 9. The Court of Justice of the European Union

Unit 10. The European Central Bank

Unit 11. Other bodies of the European Union


BLOCK 3. The decision-making process in the European Union


Unit 12. The institutional triangle Commission - Parliament - Council. The legislative process

BLOCK 4. Theories of European integration


Unit 13. The debate neofunctionalism - intergovernmentalism; the liberal intergovernmental – constructivism debate; the new institutionalism; multilevel governance; the European Union as a political system


BLOCK 5. The EU in times of crisis


Unit 14. Attitudes, Euroscepticism, and the far-right

Unit 15. The EU and Turkey

Unit 16. The EU and Ukraine

Unit 17. The EU and the global challenges

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Study 30 1.2 3, 4, 11, 12, 15
Seminars and practical sessions 15 0.6 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 15
Readings 30 1.2 3, 4, 15
Oral presentation of essays 7.5 0.3 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 15
Preparation of an essay in groups 15 0.6 1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 15
Tutorials 15 0.6 11
Master sessions (by the professor) 30 1.2 13, 14, 15

The methodology of the course Institutions and Politics of the European Union combines a range of training activities designed to enable students to achieve the learning outcomes. It includes autonomous, directed and supervised activities.


Directed activities account for 52.5 hours, equivalent to 35% of the total workload for the course. They include lectures with ICT support and large-group discussion, public presentations of assignments, and seminars and practical classes. These activities aim to facilitate understanding of the historical process of European integration, the functioning of the institutions, the political processes of the EU and the main theories of European integration, as well as to foster the appropriate public presentation of acquired knowledge and active, informed and conceptually accurate participation in debates and practical sessions.


Supervised activities account for 15 hours, equivalent to 10% of the total workload, and consist of tutorials aimed at clarifying doubts and providing complementary guidance for learning the course topics.


Autonomous activities account for 75 hours, equivalent to 50% of the total workload for the course. They include reading texts, studying and preparing assignments. These activities allow students to explore in greater depth the main theoretical and practical contributions on the EU, consolidate their understanding of the concepts and institutional dynamics of the European Union, and demonstrate their understanding of European political processes.

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

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Test on readings 20% 2 0.08 3, 4, 5, 11, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
Exam 50% 2.5 0.1 3, 5, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
Preparation of an essay and oral presentation 25% 2.5 0.1 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
Oral participation in seminars and sessions 5% 0.5 0.02 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

Continuous evaluation

The evaluation represents approximately 5% of the total hours, equivalent to 7.5 hours.

The assessment consists of the following deliverables by the student:

• Written exam on knowledge about the course content: 50% of the final grade. Passing the exam is a necessary but not sufficient condition for passing the course

• Two reading tests: 20% of the final grade (each test accounts for 10% of the final grade)

• Submission and presentation of a group coursework: 25% of the final grade. Passing the coursework assignment is a necessary but not sufficient condition for passing the subject

• Oral participation in seminars and practical sessions: 5% of the final grade

Important considerations:

  • Students who have not taken the exam nor submitted the coursework assignment will receive a grade of NOT EVALUATED
  • The exam will be made at the end of the semester, the date set by the Faculty, which will be announced sufficiently in advance
  • The schedule of sessions, activities, and reading exams will be announced during the first days of the course
  • Students who have not passed the final exam will have the opportunity to re-take the exam. They may take a second examination on the date determined by the Faculty, having completed the term of the second semester. Under no circumstances will students be able to take part in the recovery activities to raise their marks.
  • None of the other evaluable activities may be reassessed


Single evaluation

The single evaluation of the course represents approximately 5% of the total hours, equivalent to about 7.5 hours.

The single evaluation will consist of the following evidence from the students:

  • Final exam: 50% of the final grade. Passing the exam is a necessary but not sufficient condition to pass the subject
  • Two reading tests: 20% of the final grade
  • Submission of an individual coursework assignment: 30% of the final grade. Passing the coursework assignment is a necessary but not sufficient condition fir passing the subject

Important considerations:

  • Students who have not taken the exam nor submitted the coursework assignment will receive a grade of NOT EVALUATED
  • All deliveries will be made on the same day at the end of the semester, specifically, the date set by the Faculty to take the final exam, which will be announced sufficiently in advance
  • Students who have not passed the final exam will have the opportunity to re-take the exam. They may take a second examination on the date determined by the Faculty, once the teaching period of the second semester has ended
  • In no case will students be able to recover activities in order to improve their grade
  • None of the other evaluable activities are may be reassessed


Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

For this course, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks, such as bibliographic or information searches, text correction or translations. Students must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used and include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency in the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty in the grade for the activity, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.


Any irregularity in an assessment activity (academic fraud, plagiarism or improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorised in the course guide) that may lead to a significant variation in the grade will result in that activity being graded with a 0. If the course guide establishes that, in order to pass the course, it is essential to have obtained a minimum grade in that assessment activity, or if several irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0. In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against the student who commits any of these irregularities. The teaching staff reserve the right to conduct oral interviews or an alternative test in order to verify the effective acquisition of knowledge and competences and, therefore, the validity of the assessment activities carried out by the students.


Plagiarism and other irregularities

In accordance with academic regulations, any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade of an assessment activity must result in that assessment activity being graded with 0. If several irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0.

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Michelle Cini & Nieves Perez-Solorzano, European Union Politics, Oxford University Press, pp 157-175.

Hix, S. & B. Hoyland (2022), El Sistema Político de la Unión Europea. McGraw Hill.

Hix, S. & B. Hoyland (2022), The Political System of the European Union. McGraw Hill. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.are.uab.cat/lib/uab/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=6992939

Ripoll Servent, A. (2017), The European Parliament, Palgrave MacMillan.

Complementary bibliography

Anghel, V. & Erik Jones (2023) Is Europe really forged through crisis? Pandemic EU and the Russia – Ukraine war, Journal of European Public Policy, 30:4, 766-786, DOI: 10.1080/13501763.2022.2140820

Ares, C. & L. Bouza García (2019), Política de la Unión Europea. Crisis y continuidad, Madrid: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas.

Genschel, P. (2022) Bellicist integration? The war in Ukraine, the European Union and core state powers, Journal of European Public Policy, 29:12, 1885-1900, DOI: 10.1080/13501763.2022.2141823

Morata, F. (1998), La Unión Europea, Barcelona: Ariel. Caps. 1, 2.

Zestos, G. K., & Benedict, J. M. (2018). European Monetary Integration: A History. Encyclopedia of International Economics and Global Trade. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/George-Zestos/publication/325070683_European_Monetary_Integration_A_History/links/5d715d79299bf1cb808abaa5/European-Monetary-Integration-A-History.pdf

Zeitlin, J., F. Nicoli & B. Laffan (2019), 'Introduction: the European Union beyond the polycrisis? Integration and politicization in an age of shifting cleavages', Journal of European Public Policy 26(7): 963-976. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13501763.2019.1619803

Institucional websites

Portal de la UE: http://europa.eu/

Parlament Europeu: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/default_en.htm?redirection

Parlament Europeu, Handbook on the Ordinary Legislative Procedure: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/olp/en/ordinary-legislative-procedure/handbook-on-the-ordinary-legislative-procedure

Consell Europeu: http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/european-council/index_es.htm

Consell de la UE: http://consilium.europa.eu/showPage.ASP?lang=es

Comissió Europea: http://ec.europa.eu/index_es.htm

Tribunal de Justícia de la UE: http://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/court-justice/index_es.htm

Observatori Legislatiu de la UE: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/home/home.do

Web European Parliament on EU institutions: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/section/187/las-instituciones-y-los-organos-de-la-union-europea

EUR-Lex: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=es

Webs on the EU:

Politico: https://www.politico.eu/

Eurobserver: http://www.euobserver.com

Eupolitix: http://www.eupolitics.com

Software

Excel, Power Point

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 1 Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 10 Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 51 English second semester afternoon
(PAUL) Classroom practices 51 English second semester afternoon
(SEM) Seminars 51 English second semester afternoon
(SEM) Seminars 510 English second semester morning-mixed