POL42090 Engaging Brussels

Academic Year 2022/2023

The European Union (EU) has a huge impact on the lives of EU citizens, yet it is often seen as distant, opaque, and difficult to engage with. This module aims to engage students directly with EU governance through interactions with the institutions and political and legal processes that define the union. Students will learn about the inputs, processes, and outputs that shape EU governance and put this knowledge to use by engaging with EU institutions like the Commission, European Parliament, and European Court of Justice, and national-level institutions like Parliament, the civil service, and the ecosystem of NGOs and lobbyists engaged with EU affairs in member state capitals. Under the guidance of the module coordinator, student groups will develop an engagement project. The aim of the project is to identify avenues through which ordinary citizens can engage with EU governance, and the opportunities and challenges associated with doing so. Examples of possible projects include preparing policy dossiers on ongoing legislative proposals, lobbying EU institutions, or exploring how citizens engage with the European legal system. Projects can be applied in nature or targeted at understanding engagement processes from an outside perspective. Upon completion of the module, students will have developed an in-depth understanding of EU governance processes, and the ways in which citizens can directly involve themselves in EU politics.

Please note that a field trip to Brussels will be planned to take place during reading week (Monday 13th – Thursday 16th March). Fees apply for attending the field trip for those not on the MSc European Governance. A limited number of scholarships are available to cover these expenses.