EU Institutions & Policies

This course focuses on the establishment, structure, and operation of the European Union. Throughout the semester and across the individual lectures, particular emphasis is placed on the institutions surrounding the Union, the stages of economic and political integration, and the policies implemented by the EU. The course also highlights the changes that this major political and economic entity has brought about, and continues to bring about, both in its Member States and in the everyday lives of European citizens.

The aim of the course is to enable students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the European Union. More specifically, students will become familiar with the structure of the Union, the procedures governing its operation, and the policies it implements both internally, with regard to its Member States and citizens, and externally, in relation to the wider world. Through a dialogic and analytical approach, the course also seeks to convey the significance of the EU at both economic and political levels, as well as its impact on everyday life.

The course contributes to the development of the theoretical and empirical background required for a more comprehensive understanding, analysis, and critical assessment of issues relating to the structure and functioning of the European Union. Strengthening students’ analytical thinking constitutes one of the central objectives of the course.