BMGT20210 Business and the European Union

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module examines the relationship between the European Union and the business environment in Europe and internationally. Businesses, inside and outside the European Union, are reviewing their business models and strategies, as they seek to i. address the consequences of and recovery from the COVID pandemic in a tense geopolitical environment, ii. meet the challenges posed by Brexit and the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and iii. accommodate the changing nature of globalisation encompassing international political relations (e.g. with the US, China, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Russia), economic development, along with the flows of trade (goods and services) and investment. These developments are in many ways unprecedented and business dislikes uncertainty thus making it a lively and interesting time to study the European Union. The European Commission, with the support of member states, presented an ambitious programme (2019-2024) which prioritises ‘A European Green Deal’, ‘Fitness or the digital age’, a stronger Europe in the world’, providing both challenges and opportunities for business.

Manufacturing and service companies, both large and small, across a wide range of industries established within the EU or trading with it must comply with its legislative requirements and be mindful of policy development. In part I the module’s introductory lectures/sessions provide i. an overview of the history and development of the European Union along the role of business interests; ii. the European Union institutions/agencies and policy development and iii. a profile of the member states and international relations. Part II will addresses a selection of specific policy areas including the internal market for goods and services, competition policy, common commercial policy/world trade, financial regulation, the environment/climate change, energy policy and digital commerce. When addressing these policy areas the module will draw attention to and encourage student engagement with case studies which illustrate the impact on companies and industries as they seek to comply, adapt and innovate to address the challenges posed.

The module is designed to guide independent learning and facilitate the development of critical research skills into the European Union and its policies which can be applied to meet future needs. This is reflected in the formative assignments and module assessment which provide for group and individual research involving the critical selection of primary, academic and complementary sources to address the impact of the European Union on the business environment, industries and individual companies.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Learning outcomes: On completion of this module participants will have the skill and knowledge to

- understand and research the roles and functions of the European institutions/agencies in the development and implementation of EU policies;
- navigate the primary sources on the EU institutions/agencies, policy processes, legislative and policy materials, and forums for interaction with business stakeholders;
- navigate and critically select primary, academic and complementary sources;
- establish the relationships between the European Union institutions/agencies and the business stakeholders;
- consider the evolving form and influence of European Union policies on European and international business; and
- evaluate the impact of European Union policies on specific industries and companies.

Indicative Module Content:

This module will

i. briefly review the foundation of the European Union and its evolution into a major regional player in the world of international business;
ii. identify the institutional players and agencies (e.g. the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the European Parliament , the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Central Bank) who make the key decisions and monitor the European Unions legal and policy impact;
iii. explore policy fields including the internal market for goods and services, international trade, investment, competition, economic and monetary union, climate/environment, the digital world;
iv. investigate the interplay between business and EU policies (as mentioned above) through examples drawn from a variety of sectors including food/drink, transport (rail, air, road and sea), pharmaceuticals, finance/banking, digital services, energy.

Given the centrality of challenges posed by climate change and sustainability these will feature across the policy fields. The EU policy process and relations with business stakeholders also raises questions of transparency and ethics.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Specified Learning Activities

66
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

130
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module involves blended learning combining in person lectures/discussion sessions with materials and exercises in research skills made available via Brightspace.

The aim is to progressively, as the module develops over the semester, encourage discussion and debate on topical EU policy issues and their impact on the business stakeholders.

Guidance on study techniques, critical thinking linking the academic knowledge, research skills in navigating European Union resources and commentary (via multimedia sources), and assignment preparation will be provided in a staged approach over the course of the module. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: individual – research and write a case study on a specific EU legislative policy, chosen from a selection provided, with specific reference to the impact on a company or industry sector. Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

70
Assignment: Small group (max 3 students) - research report and presentations -

Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

30

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be available in respect to both assignments to group/class and individual students i. as an ungraded formative feedback on outlines of assignments and sources and ii. following the issuing of provisional grades (assignment 1) and final formal grades (assignment 2).

The following texts are the essential to the module lecture sessions and will be complemented by primary, academic and complementary sources introduced over the course of the module in lecture sessions and on Brightspace.

All of the following are available as ebooks via the UCD Online facilities

Cini, M. and Borragán, P. (2022), European Union Politics (7th edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Coen, D., Katsaitis, A. and Vannoni, M. (2021), Business Lobbying in the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Coman, R., Crespy, A., Schmidt, V.A., (Eds.) (2020), Governance and Politics in the Post-Crisis European Union. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Craig, P. and De Búrca, G. (2020), EU Law: text, cases and materials. Oxford: Oxford University Press.


Wallace, H., Pollack, M.A., and Young, A.R. (2021) Policy-making in the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press.