Introduction to EU Politics

POLID323 – Introduction to EU Politics
This course introduces the European Union as a political system, tracing its historical development, theoretical foundations, and institutional framework. It examines the roles of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Council, and the Council of the EU, as well as EU competences and decision-making processes. The course also explores contemporary challenges through the case of the European Green Deal, highlighting integration, disintegration, and the EU’s global role. Assessment is based on a three-hour multiple-choice exam covering lectures, readings, and class discussions.

 

Course structure

• Introduction and Historical Evolution

  • The beginnings of European integration

  • Institutionalisation of the EU

  • Theories of European integration

• The EU as a Political System

  • EU competences and the European Commission

  • The European Parliament

  • The European Council and the Council of the EU

  • EU decision-making

• Politics of the EU

  • The European Parliament and the Commission in practice (guest lectures)

  • Integration and disintegration through the Green Deal

  • Contestation, geopolitics, and external perceptions

• Wrap-up and Exam Preparation
  
   

  Assessment
  The evaluation consists of a three-hour multiple-choice exam based on:

• Lecture content and discussions

• PowerPoint presentations (history and theories, institutions and decision-making, the Green Deal and geopolitics)

• All compulsory readings

Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand the evolution of European integration and connect past developments to current debates

• Analyse how the EU’s institutions and decision-making processes function in practice

• Assess key challenges in EU politics, with a focus on integration, disintegration, and the EU’s global role

Teaching methods
The course consists of lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations and compulsory readings. Guest lectures with academics, experts, and EU officials provide practical insights into how institutions function. A visit to the House of European History complements the lectures.

Students will be granted access to the course material and the material will be available on the UV. This material is covered by intellectual property rights regulations. It is therefore not authorised to share it outside the UV. By registering for the course, you consent to these conditions related to the course material.

Course notes

• Université virtuelle

Contacts

Contact:

Camille Nessel, PhD  

camille.nessel@ulb.be

Campus

Solbosch

Method(s) of evaluation

• written examination
• Other

written examination

Other

Language(s) of evaluation

• english