INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE EU

Masters in Civil Society and Local Development at the Prishtina University

(MCSLD, http://www.unipr-mcsld.com )
Sumer semester 2013
GENERAL INFORMATION
Module:

Institutional Framework of the EU (10 ECTS)

Lecturer:

Prof. Dr. Arben Hajrullahu

Location:

University of Prishtina, Department of Political Science

Participants:

Fourth Semester students of MA studies: Masters in Civil Society and

Local Development

Objectives:

This course aims at developing a critical understanding of the specificity

of EU institutional law and more especially of the composition and
competences of EU institutions and the EU decision-making process.
Reference is made to treaty-making, mixed agreements, major policy
areas of EU external relations, and decisions of the European
Commission. Moreover, this course aims to help students to deepen their
understanding into EU integration process, and to develop a critical
thinking about policy oriented and practical options of good governance
and political transparency in the EU and in the west Balkan region.

What is expected of Students?

Students will be expected to read, think, criticize, and form arguments.
That means that students must keep up in their reading assignments
and attend class regularly. Students must be fully prepared at all
times to discuss the readings and concepts from previous lectures.
Readings:
Method:

Textbooks, readers, online sources (the main readings will be in

English, but some of them may be also in Albanian)
Combined interactive lectures, interactive seminar/tutorial style based
on case studies, guest speakers, final exam.

Course Requirements:
Participation; Preparation for the course; In-class presentation of the policy brief (*)
Written exam

50%
50%

The grade percentages are as follows:

Grade
Percentages
5
58% or less failed
6
59 - 65 %
7
66 72 %
8
73 79 %
9
80 86 %
10
87% or greater

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Course Description:
The course on Institutional Framework of EU has been structured with the overall objective to
provide students the knowledge necessary to fully understand the most essential aspects of the
process of European integration and its particular relevance for the regions in the EU /
Europe. The overall content of the course will provide knowledge on:

Fundamental principles of the EU law

Institutional framework and decision making
EU sources and law making
The substantial law of the EU (fundamental freedoms, EU citizenship, competition law,
social policies)
Political processes in the EU
Fundamental rights in the EU
Financial instruments of the EU
Enlargement and EU neighbourhood policy

Key Readings:
- Helen Wallace, William Wallace, Mark A. Pollack (2011 or 2005): Policy-Making in the
European Union
- Simon Hix (2011 or 2005): The political system of European Union
Further readings:
- Blerim Reka, Arta Ibrahimi (2004): European Studies, (University text book in Albanian)
South Easter European University-SEEU)
- Blerim Reka (2007): EU Constitution, The Rubicon of Supranational
- Berthold Rittberger, Frank Schimmelfennig (eds, 2007): The Constitutionalization of the
European Union
- Catherine Moury, Lus de Sousa (eds, 2009): Institutional Challenges in PostConstitutional Europe Governing Change
- Ole Elgstrm, Michael Smith, Thomas Poguntke (eds, 2007): The European Union's Roles
in International Politics Concepts and Analysis
- William Walters, Jens Henrik Haahr (2006): Governing Europe, Discourse,
Governmentality and European Integration
Some online sources:
http://europa.eu (European Union's server)
http://eiop.or.at/erpa/ (European research papers Archive)
http://www.euractiv.com
http://www.europeanvoice.com/
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/EPRG/
http://www.cer.org.uk
http://www.ceps.be/index3.php
http://www.iue.it/

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SYLLABUS OUTLINE
I. Introduction into topic, course requirements and outline
Readings:
-

Syllabus
Simon Hix (2005): The political system of European Union (Chapter 1, pp. 1-23)

II. Historical Background of the EU, EU treaties and the concept of European
Integration. The institutions: The European Council; The European Parliament; The
Council; The Commission; Other Institutions and Community Bodies
Readings:
- Helen Wallace, William Wallace, Mark A. Pollack (2005): Policy-Making in the
European Union (Part I: Institutions, Processes, and Analytical Approaches, pp. 3-90)
III. Enlargement, and neighbourhood policy; Political Processes: Political System and
processes of the EU
Readings:
- Simon Hix (2005): The political system of European Union (Part II: Politics, pp. 147-231
& 406-421)
- Helen Wallace, William Wallace, Mark A. Pollack (2005): Policy-Making in the
European Union (Chapter 15,16, and 17, pp. 377-456)

(*) In-class presentation of a policy brief

The in class presentation (in Albanian and/or in English) can be prepared alone or in a group
of maximum three students. In case you decide for a group presentation, it should be clear that
every student in the group has contributed actively to the presentation and will take part in the
class presentation.
Please choose a topic for the presentation of a policy brief related to the class. Topics need to
be approved by the class instructor via e-mail or in person. Make sure that your presentation
lasts no longer than 15 minutes for each student presenting. Presentations should be
prepared in Power Point.
This is your remit:
Assume that you are a member of staff at the Ministry for EU-integration in a given Western
Balkan country. You have been asked to brief the foreign minister on a particular
issue/problem related to one of the topics:
-

Achievements and challenges related to rule of law and democratisation in your

Western Balkan country of choice;
Achievements and obstacles on the EU-integration process in your Western Balkan
country of choice;
Regional cooperation on the path of the EU-integration.

After you have chosen your topic you will need to include the following elements in your
presentation:
1. An "executive summary" of the problem;
2. Supporting information;
3. A set of policy options;
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4. Recommended option/options, and justification for such recommendation/s.

Reading Guidelines:
When preparing your in-class presentation you may find it useful to check your
comprehension of the reading against these study questions.

What is the author's purpose in writing this piece?

What are the author's guiding questions?
What concepts does the author emphasize? How are these concepts defined?
What are the author's conclusions? Do they seem logical given the evidence provided?
Would you draw different conclusions? Why or why not?
What questions remain unanswered?
Plagiarism:
All work and materials that you submit to the instructor for a grade must be your own work.

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