LFU:online

This course was especially designed for students/academics with no economics or business background and its aim is to allow students/academics to develop their knowledge and understanding of Europe and the European Union. The new millennium brought a lot of new and interesting developments in the European Union all European citizens in higher education and outside should be aware of. By the time participants have finished working through the 10 units of this course they should have some knowledge of the socio-economic geography of Europe, the economic and political situation in Europe, the place that the European Union has within Europe, the evolution of the EU and its future, the institutions of the EU and the main European items, i.e. the enlargement, the enactment of legislation, a common currency, the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) and a common foreign and security policy.

Unity and Diversity; The European Union, its origin, growth and perspectives; The European Union, its institutions and decision-making; The Implications of the Maastricht & Amsterdam Treaties; The 'Frontiers' of Europe; EMS, ECU, EMU and EURO; The Common Agricultural Policy; The Regional Policy; The Common Foreign and Security Policy; The future of Europe. 'Quo vadis, Europe?'

online (blended learning)

Permanent written evaluation (feed back) of weekly assignments and final paper at the end of the course.

Cini, Michelle and Nieves Perez-Solorzano Borragan (2013): European Union Politics, ^4th Edition, Oxford University Press.

Selected supplementary material extracted from Baldwin, Richard and Charles Wyplosz (2009): The Economics of European Integration, 3^rd Edition, McGrawHill

Web material selected from the European Union’s official website (europa.eu).

Complimentary scientific articles.

English language level min B2.

Austrian students should be at least in their 5^th semester (120 ECTS credits completed).

This course is designed for all students, interested in the generel functioning and decision making process of the European Union.

Student workload for weekly assignments 10 hours on average per week !

Please note that only 25 students per group will be accepted in the course. Preference is given to exchange students, yet first come first serve. There is also a waiting list - the first 5 students on the waiting list will also be invited to the first session so that if someone decides to leave the course after the first meeting, the free spaces can be filled.