1. Introductory session (Petr Kaniok)

Introduction of the course, course requirements, assignments and grading.

2. Introduction in the EU institutions (Petr Kaniok)

Introduction to EU institutions, overview of historical development, overview of neo-institutional theories.

Assigned reading (26 pages): 

Pollack, M. (2008): The New Institutionalisms and European Integration. Constitutionalism Web-Papers, ConWEB No. 1/2008. 

3. The European Council and the EU Council (Petr Kaniok)

Roles, functions and composition of the European Council. Roles, functions and composition of the EU Council. The Presidency of the EU Council.

Assigned reading (74 pages): 

Kajnč, S. (2011): The Council of the EU and the European Council. In: How the EU Institutions Work and..How to Work with the EU Institutions (ed. Hardacre, A.). London: John Harper Publishing, 47-84.

Kajnč, S. (2011): The Council of the EU and the European Council. In: How the EU Institutions Work and..How to Work with the EU Institutions (ed. Hardacre, A.). London: John Harper Publishing, 47-84.

4. The European Commission (Petr Kaniok)

Roles, functions and composition of the European Commission.

Assigned readings (35 pages): 

Hardacre, A. (2011): The European Commission. In: How the EU Institutions Work and…How to Work with the EU Institutions (ed. Hardacre, A.). London: John Harper Publishing, 11-46.

5. The European Parliament (Jakob Lempp)

Roles, functions and composition of the European Parliament. The European elections.

Assigned readings (40 pages):

Hardacre, A. (2011): The European Parliament. In: How the EU Institutions Work and…How to Work with the EU Institutions (ed. Hardacre, A.). London: John Harper Publishing, 85-124.

6. Advisory bodies and supervisory power (Petr Kaniok)

Roles, functions and composition of the advisory bodies (Committee of the Regions, European Economic and Social Committee) and EU agencies.

Assigned readings (33 pages):

Hardacre, A. – Andrien, N. (2011): Other EU Institutions and Bodies. In: How the EU Institutions Work and…How to Work with the EU Institutions (ed. Hardacre, A.). London: John Harper Publishing, 125-144.

Costa, O. – Brack, N. (2014): How the EU Really Works. Farnham: Ashgate, 131-144. 

7. EU legislative and budgetary procedures (Petr Kaniok)

Procedures for adoption of EU secondary law, budgetary procedure. Types of EU legislative acts.

Assigned readings (32 pages):

Hardacre, A. – Andrien, N. (2011): The Ordinary Legislative Procedure: New Codecision. In: How the EU Institutions Work and…How to Work with the EU Institutions (ed. Hardacre, A.). London: John Harper Publishing, 147-179.

The course will be taught in flipped on-line format. For each week (week 2 – 7), students will have pre-recorded video .ppt presentations covering particular topic available in the interactive outline (is.muni.cz). It is recommended to watch the video prior class for particular topic takes place. The contact on-line meetings will be used for students´ questions on particular topic and for discussion on EU institutions weekly news (see below).

Course material (including recommended or required reading)

• • See assigned reading for each particular session
  • 6 pre-recorded lectures (each lasting around 90 minutes)
  • EU institutions official websites (Parliament, Commission, Council)
  • politico.eu, euronews.com, euractiv.com

Division of contents

Content is divided in 5 thematic blocs, one block for student presentations, one final wrap up session, and one final exam (remote). 

Grading scheme

The grading is based on the following assignments:

• Institutional monitor: Students will choose one of three major EU institutions (the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Council) in order to monitor its real activities during the term. For each week (from week 2 until week 7 included), each student will be required to submit 400 words lasting report on:
  • what particular institution did in previous week,
  • what can be considered as the most important event related to this institution during this week

    Each submission will be graded on F/P basis with 2 points. Each submission has to be uploaded until XXXX prior forthcoming class – delayed submissions will be graded as failed with 0 points. Students discussing their weekly reports will get 1 bonus point for each presentation during classes.  Overall value up to 12 points + 6 bonus points for activity during class discussions.

    Students are encouraged to use official websites of the institutions as well as sources as politico.eu, euractiv.com, eurobserver.com or news agencies as reuters.com.

• Final exam: The exam will consist of six questions per 5 points. The questions will be focused on topics included in the assigned readings/class sessions. Overall value up to 30 points. Exam test will take place on remote basis, that means via is.muni.cz in various time slots. 

Evaluation scale

In sum, students can achieve 42 points (+ 6 bonus points).

The grading scale is as follows:

The course is offered within the Erasmus funded VERSATILE project. The course is open to second, third- and fourth-year students at the participating universities.

• Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
• University of Derby (UK)
• Rhine Waal University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
• Masaryk University (Czech Republic)