Guide in PDF format
Logo

European Community Policies

Code: 101107
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Political Science and Public Management OP 3
Political Science and Public Management OP 4
International Relations OB 3
Contemporary History, Politics and Economics OP 3
Contemporary History, Politics and Economics OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Ana Mar Fernandez Pasarin
Email :
ana.fernandez.pasarin@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Irina Ciornei

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

A prior knowledge of the process of European integration and, in particular, of the European institutional system, will be positively valued. Active and passive knowledge of the English language is required.

Objectives

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to understand the functioning of the EU's system of government, the development of the European public policies and the impact that they produce in the Member States.

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. Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.
  7. Showing a good capacity for transmitting information, distinguishing key messages for their different recipients.
  8. Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
  9. Working autonomously.
  10. Producing and planning researches or analytical reports.
  11. Properly explaining and describing main theoretical approaches of the analysis of political sciences: cycle of politics, actor-network, institutional approaches, rational choice theory.
  12. Distinguishing the phases of public politics: formulation, decision, implementation and evaluation.
  13. Critically analysing the configuration process of the public agenda.
  14. Suggesting and explaining a case study of a concrete public policy.
  15. Describing and understanding the functioning of the Public Administration on a state, sub-state and supranational level.
  16. Applying the knowledge of the Public Administrations on its various levels to practical and professional concrete cases.
  17. Demonstrating the understanding of intergovernmental relationships and identifying the position of Public Administrations in the political system.
  18. Analysing public policies, both in their elaboration and implementation processes.
  19. Using different tools for the analysis and explanation of the formulation, decision, implementation and evaluation processes in public policies.
  20. Analyse the role of different actors in the formulation of political policies.
  21. Analyse the day-to-day function of the EU and the role of different actors in drawing up policies.
  22. Analyse how the EU and other actors manage the problems posed by the promotion of democracy and the rule-of-law state in the world.
  23. Evaluate the impact of different actors and the rules of operation in the formulation of EU policies.
  24. For real and simulated case studies analyse the implementation of community and intergovernmental policies in the EU and their posterior application.
  25. Use techniques of analysis for the functioning of universal institutions, in particular those of the European Union, in its day-to-day operations and its task of promoting aid for development and the promotion of democracy and the rule-of-law state.
  26. Identify data sources and carry out rigorous bibliographical and documentary searches.
  27. Use metatheoretical data to argue and establish plausible relation of causality and establish ways of validating or rejecting them.
  28. Apply quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in research processes.
  29. Produce and prepare the presentation of intervention reports and/or proposals.
  30. Propose new experience-based methods or alternative solutions.
  31. Weigh up the risks and opportunities of one's own ideas for improvement and proposals made by others.
  32. Propose new ways to measure success or failure when implementing ground-breaking proposals or ideas.
  33. Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within the area of your own knowledge.
  34. Analyse the indicators of sustainability of academic and professional activities in the areas of knowledge, integrating social, economic and environmental dimensions.
  35. Propose viable projects and actions that promote social, economic and environmental benefits.
  36. Propose ways to evaluate projects and actions for improving sustainability.
  37. Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
  38. Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
  39. Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.
  40. Propose projects and actions in accordance with the principles of ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights, diversity and democratic values.
  41. Identify the principal forms of sex- or gender-based inequality and discrimination present in society.
  42. Analyse the sex- or gender-based inequalities and the gender biases present in one's own area of knowledge.
  43. Consider how gender stereotypes and roles impinge on the exercise of the profession.
  44. Propose projects and actions that incorporate the gender perspective.
  45. Communicate using language that is not sexist or discriminatory.
  46. Demonstrating good writing skills in different contexts.
  47. Describing and understanding the functioning of the Public Administration on a state, sub-state and supranational level.
  48. Demonstrate initiative and work independently when required.
  49. Working by using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in order to apply them to research processes.
  50. Realising effective oral presentations that are suited to the audience.
  51. Identifying sources of data and conducting bibliographic and documentary searches.
  52. Designing data collection techniques, coordinating the information processing and meticulously applying hypothesis verification methods.
  53. Properly explaining and describing main theoretical approaches of the analysis of political sciences: cycle of politics, actor-network, institutional approaches, rational choice theory.
  54. Differentiate between the main theories of the discipline and its different fields: conceptual developments, theoretical frameworks and approaches that provide the basis for knowledge of the discipline and its different areas and sub-areas as well as their value for professional practice through case studies.
  55. Applying the discipline's main theories and different fields to real practical and professional problems.
  56. Develop critical thought and reasoning and be able to communicate them effectively, both in your own language and second or third languages.
  57. Develop strategies for autonomous learning.
  58. Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  59. Make changes to the methods and processes of the area of knowledge to provide innovative responses to the needs and wishes of society.
  60. Assess the social, economic and environmental impact when acting in this field of knowledge.
  61. Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.

Contents

 

The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject. In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies.

 

 PART I. CONCEPTS AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

 

Unit 1. The The political nature of the EU 


Unit 2. The EU as a public policy provider


Unit 3. European policies and the exercise of power: typology and main interpretating theories


Unit 4. European policies: elaboration, decision and implementation at the EU and domestic levels



PART II. ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC/SECTORIAL PUBLIC POLICIES


Unit 5. EU Budget and public policies


Unit 6. Internal Market and Economic governance

Unit 7. Competition policy

Unit 8. Cohesion policy

Unit 9. Agricultural and rural development policy

Unit 10. Commercial policy

Unit 11. Environmental, energy and climate change policy


Unit 12. Immigration and Asylum Policy



 

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Lectures and seminars 55 2.2 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13, 19, 58
Individual and collective tutorial hours 15 0.6 1, 2, 3, 4, 14, 16, 19
Oral presentation 18 0.72 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 27, 29, 45
Paper 30 1.2 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61
The proposed teaching methodology and evaluation activities may undergo some modifications depending on the health authorities' attendance restrictions.
 
In principle, this course combines:
 
1) Guided activities:
 
Theoretical classes with contradictory debates on different European news topics and discussion seminars on compulsory readings.
 
2) Supervised activities:
 
Individual tutorials or by group 
 
3) Autonomous activities:
Writing of a final paper
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
Written case studies 20% 20 0.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 49, 51, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61
Exam 50% 2 0.08 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 47, 48, 53, 54, 55, 58
Oral presentation and discusssion of case studies 30% 10 0.4 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 45, 47, 50, 51, 52

Assessment:


The evaluation is based on:


1. Written case studies on EU regulation by groups of max 3 students: 20%


3. Oral presentation and discussion of case study: 30%


4. Individual Exam: 50%


In order to pass the course, a minimun grade of 5/10 in the individual exam is required.



Plagiarism detection will imply the grade of suspension in the course.



Students will have the right to retake the final exam of the course if 1) they have been evaluated on all the activities, the weight of which is at least 2/3 of the total grade of the course; 2) the final grade obtained in the first evaluation is equal to or higher than 3.5/10. The maximum mark of the retake exam will be 5/10.


Single assessment procedure:

Single assessment means a single assessment date but not a single assessment activity. It must be competency-based, i.e. through the assessment activities the student must demonstrate that he/she is capable of carrying out the tasks set out in the subject and these activities must have the same level of demand as those that form part of the continuous assessment. Consequently, to ensure that the single assessment accredits the achievement of the objectives and learning outcomes set in each subject, it is recommended that there should be a minimum of three assessment activities, two of which should be of different types.

Assessment activities (Single assessment date/AU):


1. Written case study on EU regulation: 20%


3. Oral presentation and discussion of case study: 30%


4. Exam: 50%


In order to pass the course, a minimun grade of 5/10 in the individual exam is required.


Not avaluable students: If a student has not presented the three parts of the assessment, he/she will be considered as not avaluable.

In accordance with article 117.2 of the Academic Regulations of the UAB, the evaluation of repeating students may consist of a single proof of synthesis. The repeat students who wish to take up this possibility will need to contact the faculty at the beginning of the course.


Restricted use of AI:

For this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed exclusively in support tasks, such as bibliographic search and proofreading or translations. The student will have to clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity.


The detection of any irregularity in an evaluation act (academic fraud, plagiarism or improper use of AI), which may lead to a significant variation in the grade, involves that this act will be graded with a 0. In the event that the teaching guide foresees that in order to pass the subject it is an essential requirement to have obtained a minimum grade in this evaluation act or that there are several irregularities in the evaluation acts of the same subject, the final grade of this subject is 0. Apart from this, a disciplinary process may be instructed to the student that incurs in any of these irregularities. The teaching staff reserves the right to conduct oral interviews or an alternative test, in order to verify the effective acquisition of knowledge and skills and therefore the validity of the evaluation tests carried out by the students.




Bibliography

At the beginning of the course, a list with compulsory readings will be uploaded on the campus virtual.

Remedial readings:

ARREGUI, J. (ed.) (2023) Europeanisation of Public Policies in Spain (Madrid: McGraw Hill).

BOMBERG, E., J. PETERSON and A. STUBB (eds) (2008), The European Union: How Does it Work?, (Oxford:Oxford University Press).

BULMER, S. et al. (2021) The Politics in European Union (Oxford: Oxford University Press), fifth ed. Also Available in Ebook.

BULMER, S. and LEQUESNE, Ch. (2020), The Member States of the EU (Oxford: Oxford University Press), 3rd ed.

HIX,S. and B. HOYLAND (2022), The Political System of the European Union (London: Palgrave Macmillan). 4th ed.

HEINELT, H. and MÜNCH, S. (2018) Handbook of European Policies, (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar)

NUGENT, N. (2010), The Government and Politics of the European Union, (London:Palgrave Macmillan)

PETERSON, J. & SHACKLETON, M. (2006) The Institutions of the European Union (Oxford: Oxford University Press).

VAN MIDDELAAR, L. (2014) The passage to Europe: How a Continent became a Union (Yale: Yale University Press)

WALLACE, H. et al. (2020) Policy-making in the European Union (Oxford: Oxford University Press). 8th ed.

 

 Journals:

 

Journal of European Integration

Journal of Common Market Studies

Journal of European Public Policy

West European Politics

Public Administration

 

 

Software

N/A

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 English second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 English second semester morning-mixed