B7486 - EU POLICY MAKING IN ACTION

Learning outcomes

The course is designed to provide specialised knowledge of the various decision making processes and procedures of the European Union. As a result students will be able to get a practical understanding of the European policy cycle and its drivers. They will also learn the role of the various EU Institutions and the lobbies in setting the political agenda and steering the decision making process. Several case studies will be used as part of teaching to further the understanding of the process aimed at creating the internal market, the main driver of the EU political integration. The case studies will also illustrate some of the main policy areas in which the EU is active and the complex system of EU policy making. 

Course contents

The course is divided into two parts and will end with two seminars on themes dealt with beforehand.

Part I. Understanding the European Union (8 hours)

1. The foundations of the EU project

Federal integration, a conceptual approach resulting from a mix of economic integration and federalism. The two levels of governance: central and national levels. The principle of subsidiarity. The evolution of the EU’s policy portfolio and policy processes over the year.

1. Who does what in Brussels

The main institutions the EU, their role and tasks. The influence exercised by the lobbies and civil society organisations in shaping the policy agenda and the decisional process. Policy roles, functions and the distribution of power within the various institutions and amongst the Member States.

1. The EU’s decision making process

The various decisional processes and procedures. The setting of the EU political agenda, its strategic objectives and policy priorities. Regulation, self-regulation and co-regulation. The life of a EU law and its impact of the life of its people.

1. Economic integration as catalyst for further political integration

The process of completion of the internal market, the backbone of the EU.The 4 fundamental freedoms and Community method, the main decision making process. The ordinary legislative procedure and new forms of governance.

1. A Union of values

Democracy, human rights and the Rule of Law are identitarian, foundation elements of the EU and of our “way of living”.

Part II. EU Media Policy: balancing freedom of expression and other fundamental rights online. 5 case studies (13 hours)

1. The process of liberalisation and regulation of the European audiovisual market.

1. The Copyright reform (protection and monetisation of copyrighted works distributed over the Internet, while protecting freedom of expression and freedom of the arts). Copyright and Artificial Intelligence.

1. Internet and digital platforms regulation. The Digital Services Act, a comprehensive regulatory framework on content moderation and protection of citizens’ rights online, including from disinformation.

1. The Media Freedom Act, a brand new law enhacing media freedom, pluralism and journalists protection across the EU.

1. The regulation of artificial intelligence in the EU (the AI Act).

Seminar 1: for example, the life of a European law (3 hours).

Seminar 2: for example, freedom of expression and protection of minors online (3 hours).

Readings/Bibliography

L. Buonanno and N. Nugent, Policy and Policy Processes of the European Union, Macmillan Education Ltd 2021, Chapter 3 The federal integration approach, Chapter 7 The policy cycle, Chapter 8 Policymaking modes, Chapter 9 The internal market,  Chapter 15 The area of freedom, security and justice.

The ABC of EU law, the chapters on the Legal order of the EU and the Position of EU law in relation to the legal order as a whole, https://op.europa.eu/webpub/com/abc-of-eu-law/en

The Digital Services Act https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-services-act-ensuring-safe-and-accountable-online-environment_en .

The European Media Freedom Act (europa.eu) [https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_5504]

G. Pitruzzella and O. Pollicino, Disinformation and Hate Speech, Bocconi University Press 2020, Chapter 1 Freedom of Information in the Internet Era, p. 3-49.

G.B. Abbamonte, The rise of the digital artist. AI creativity, copyright and database right. European Intellectual Property Review, Volume 43 Issue 11, 2021.

 

Teaching methods

The course will follow a blended learning approach based on in person (12 hours) and remote teaching (16 hours). 

Assessment methods

Students will be assessed on the basis of a short essay (approximately 25000 characters or 12-15 pages) on of the topics addressed during the lessons. The evaluation criteria will be the clarity, structure and understanding of the topic.

Students may chose to present their essay during one of the two seminars that will be held at the end of the course. In this case the presentation will be considered to be an exam, but students will be allowed to integrate or polish the essay afterwards.  

Teaching tools

I will use slides that will be distributed to the students at the end of the lessons. 

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppe Abbamonte

See the website of