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EU policy and implementation: making Europe work!

Approx. 56 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course provides an overview of how the European Union works, covering topics such as its history, institutions, policies, and challenges. Students will gain a better understanding of how decisions are made at the EU level and its impact on member states and citizens.

Key Learning Points

Learn about the history and evolution of the European Union
Understand the functioning of its institutions and decision-making processes
Explore the major policies and challenges facing the EU today

Learning Outcomes

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the EU and its impact on member states and citizens
Develop critical thinking skills to analyze EU policies and decision-making processes
Apply knowledge gained to real-world scenarios and debates

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic understanding of political science and international relations
Familiarity with current events and issues facing the EU

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online self-paced
Video lectures
Reading materials
Quizzes

Similar Courses

The European Union in Global Governance
The European Union: Crisis and Recovery

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Former President of the European Council
Former Member of the European Parliament

Related Books

Description

People have become more critical of EU policy and often seem to prefer local policy solutions in response to globalisation problems. How do you experience EU policy? Does it help? And if not, how can we change this? In this course, we learn how the European Union prepares and decides on policy, and how policy is transferred to member states and implemented by various authorities, including regional and local governments. We discuss the challenges of the European multi-level governance structure. We also focus on the main causes of policy failure or success. On this journey, we focus on actual policy and present the views of various experts: how easy is it to establish yourself in another EU-country? How do governments make sure that the air you breathe is clean? And who is responsible?

You will be able to do research together in your own local setting. Research on implementation in which you can make comparisons between different countries or areas. If you live outside the EU, this is not a problem. We have developed assignments in such a way that you can do research in your area and compare your findings with others. This MOOC has been rated as one of the best MOOCs of 2017 and is currently in the Top 50 MOOCs of All Time of Class Central So, are you curious? Please join: 'EU policy and implementation: making Europe work'. Watch our trailer video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3nSN9R3VR4

Outline

Welcome to this course
Trailer
Course introduction
How to succeed in your online class?
Course syllabus
Honors Track Syllabus
How we grade your quizzes and assignments
Meet the instructors & the team
Leiden University: Facts & Figures
Community Guidelines
What is your learning path?

Understanding policy and the European policy process
How do we understand policy?
How do we understand decision-making?
The European policy process in brief
Introducing the policy dossiers
What is the problem? Residence rights and posting dossiers
What is the problem? Air quality dossier
Walkthrough for your assignment 1: Example for Air Quality dossier
Required readings
The Honors Track
Honors Track: Do you join us in our research? (Get your ID)
Required readings supporting the dossiers
How do we understand policy?
How do we understand decision-making?
End quiz week 1
Research Assignment 1: What is the problem? Residence rights dossier
Research Assignment 1: What is the problem? Posting dossier
Research Assignment 1: What is the problem? Air quality dossier
Test your policy knowledge: exercise 1
Finish this module

EU Decision-making
What can go wrong with EU decision-making?
Sectoral interests in the European Union
Brussels is always in a hurry
EU policymaking from an international perspective
What is the European policy? Residence rights and posting dossiers
What is the European policy? Air quality dossier
Walkthrough for assignment 2: Example for air quality dossier
Required reading: What can go wrong with EU decision-making
Required reading: Sectoral interest in the EU
Required reading: Brussels is always in a hurry
Required reading: EU policymaking from an international perspective
Sectoral interests in the European Union
Brussels is always in a hurry
End quiz week 2
Research Assignment 2: What are the goals? Residence rights dossier
Research Assignment 2: What are the goals? Posting dossier
Research Assignment 2: What are the goals? Air quality dossier
Test your policy knowledge: exercise 2
Finish this module

Transposition
What happens after adoption?
Transposition as interpretation
Transposition as behavior: a policy perspective on domestic actors
The Commission shaping European policy
The Commission as the guardian of the treaties
How is the European policy transposed? Residence rights and posting dossier
How is the European policy transposed? Air quality dossier
Required reading: Transposition as interpretation
Required reading: Transposition as behavior: a policy perspective on domestic actors
Required reading: The Commission shaping European policy
Required reading: The Commission as the guardian of the treaties
Transposition as interpretation
Transposition as behavior
The Commission shaping European policy
End quiz week 3
Research assignment 3: How is the policy formulated? Residence rights dossier
Research assignment 3: How is the policy formulated? Posting dossier
Research assignment 3: How is the policy formulated? Air quality dossier
Test your policy knowledge: final quiz

Implementation
What can go wrong with implementation?
Time, capacity and culture
Policy fit and related explanations
Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players
Involvement of regional and local governments in implementation
How is implementation nationally organized? Residents rights and posting dossiers
How is implementation nationally organized? Air quality dossier
How is the European policy implemented? Residents rights and posting dossiers
How is the European policy implemented? Air quality dossier
Walkthrough for assignment 4: Implementation (Air quality dossier)
Required reading: What can go wrong with implementation?
Required reading: Time, capacity and culture
Required reading: Policy fit and related explanations
Required reading: Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players
Required reading: Involvement of regional and local governments in implementation
Time, capacity and culture
Policy fit and related explanations
Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players
Wiki on the organization of implementation
End quiz week 4
Research Assignment 4: How is the policy implemented? Residence rights dossier
Research Assignment 4: How is the policy implemented? Posting dossier
Research Assignment 4: How is the policy implemented? Air quality dossier

Redesigning EU policymaking
How can EU policymaking be redesigned?
Better regulation: Legislation that will deliver?
Consultations, impact assessments, and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?
Experimentation for better results
Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality
How can we improve policy? Residence rights and Posting dossiers
How can we improve policy? Air quality dossier
Required reading: Better regulation: legislation that will deliver?
Required reading: Consultations, impact assessment and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?
Required reading: Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality
Complete our short survey
Better regulation: legislation that will deliver?
Consulations, impact assessments and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?
Experimentation for better results
Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality
End quiz week 5
Assignment 5: Why are there differences?
Course Reflection

Summary of User Reviews

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course provides detailed insights into the workings of the European Union and its policies.

Pros from User Reviews

The course is well-structured and easy to follow.
The instructors are knowledgeable and engaging.
The content is up-to-date and relevant.
The quizzes and assignments help reinforce the learning.

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course to be too basic and lacking in depth.
A few users found the course to be too theoretical and not practical enough.
Some users found the course to be too dry and boring.
A few users had technical issues with the platform.

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