MASTER COURSE OVERVIEW

History of Europe as an international system from 1815 onward; evolution of European conflict and cooperation in the past leading to the emergence of the European Union; historical development of present day Europe’s economy and society.

European Union’s legal system: major EU institutions and their roles with regards to EU law legislation; various sources of EU law and the effect of this law within the member states’ legal systems; general principles of European Union law, with emphasis on fundamental human rights, citizenship, the rule of law, non-discrimination, and proportionality; and enforcement of EU law and remedies for the violation of the law.

Major economic issues arising in the context of European integration; theories of economic integration, the EU Single Market, European monetary, Fiscal and monetary policy in the Economic and Monetary Union, and the EU budget; economic challenges arising from an enlarged Europe.

Role of the EU in international affairs and different aspects of EU’s involvement in the world arena, the regulations of the EU within the United States, China, Russia, and East Asia, and the degree of EU capability of being an actor at the international level in light of its particular institutional structure.

Theoretical analysis of important current issues of the European Union from the perspective of the four disciplines (Economics, History, and Political Science).

Analytical study of topics of current interest and importance in the field of EU economics and financial affairs

Major EU economic policies focusing on policies which capture the greatest share of the EU budget the Common Agricultural Policy and its reforms, Cohesion Policy, Common Commercial Policy and Competition Policy; their economic implications and their management in an enlarged Europe.

Position of the EU in the world economy, especially in the face of Asia’a growing economic weight; trade and trade-related aspects, investment, financial markets, international role of the Euro and international development aid and other areas of contemporary significance; analysis of strengths and opportunities, weaknesses and risks of EU economy; changes in the economic balance of power.

Key reforms implemented by Member States and the EU in support of the Lisbon Strategy in the areas of R&D and innovation, labour markets, business environment and consolidation of public finances, welfare system, especially in light of the challenges that arise from demographic transition, labour, and product markets.

Study of selected European firms and their choice of geographic markets, market penetration in form of trade and direct investment, ownership, and management policy and long-term in Asian Markets; basic concepts and mechanisms of European financial markets and their institutions, as they constitute a major factor in the operation of European firms.

Analytical study of topics of current interest and importance in the field of EU politics and international relations

EU’s politics, its institutions and political actors, and policies and policy processes; EU political mechanism-functions.

Insight into key European issues as depicted in a selection of European films: contemporary European society, political and national identity, ethnic identity, sexual identity.

Aspects of EU’s external relations as both a “soft” and “hard” power; EU’s development policy and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), evolution of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), impact of the Lisbon Treaty on EU’s international character.

Aspects of decision-making in the EU: lobbying, intergovernmental bargainning, and supranationalism.

Analytical study of topics of current interest and importance in the field of the EU law.

Respect for human rights as one of EU’s fundamental values enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty; European system of human rights protection: evolution of human rights at the international level and the EU level; substantive laws concerning human rights protection in EU law (including the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and in the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom); and the enforcement mechanisms, especially the European Court of Human Rights.

EU’s internal market; developments of EU legislation in selected fields, especially those with implications on international trade, such as consumer protection, state aid, and public procurement.

Settlement of international disputes, including both adjudicatory and non-adjudicatory procedures; institutional ans procedural aspects of important international courts and tribunals, such as the international Court of Justice, the World Trade Organization’s panels and Appellate Body, as well as international tribunals established by other regional economic integration agreements; comparison of the EU courts with other international courts and tribunals.

Various national systems of criminal justice in the EU: models of criminal policies in practice; problem of crime rate in relation to the elimination of national border controls; cooperation and assistance to crime control and prevention among member states.

Research on a topic of the student’s choice under supervision of instructor; analysis and interpretation of data and material.

Presentation of individual research in the form of a public seminar and in writing, under supervision of instructor.