Course: European Union Institutions

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Course title European Union Institutions
Course code KPO/IEU
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Filipec Ondřej, Mgr. et Mgr. Ph.D.
  • Fiala Vlastimil, doc. PhDr. CSc.
Course content
Lectures' topics: Structure and position of EU institutions Historical development of institutions (European Council, Council, Commission, European Parliament) Research of EU institutions: methods, sources and data Mutual interaction of institutions in practice: cooperation and competition Impact of enlargement in institutional framework and its functioning Democratic deficit of the EU: real problem? Seminars' topics: Treaty on European Constitution and Lisbon Treaty: Changes for institutional framework Databases containing information on EU institutions functioning Dynamics of institutional relations displayed on negotiations of concrete legislative acts EU Presidency Way out of democratic deficit?

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training)
Learning outcomes
The main objective of the one-semester long course EU Institutions it to give students of the MA programme with detailed overview of EU political institutions from their inception to the presence, together with their structure, aims, tasks and position on the overall hierarchy of the EU. The emphasis is given to the practical comprehension of the problems, especially regarding the dynamics of interinstitutional relations and concrete outputs of the system.
Students who have completed this course get the knowledge and skills required to comprehend theoretical and practical aspects of EU institutional framework.
Prerequisites
The completion of this course is not conditioned upon completion of any other courses.

Assessment methods and criteria
Student performance

Attendance in seminars, delivery of presentation and successful result of in-seminar tests and final written test are required in order to receive exam. The student is required to work with the learning objects, which have been created for the concrete subject and are available for authorized students in LMS EDIS.
Recommended literature
  • Falkner, Gerda (ed). (2012). The EU's Joint Decision Traps2012. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Fiala, P., Pitrová, M. (2003). Evropská unie. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury.
  • Naurin, D., Wallace, H. (2010). Unveiling the Council of the European Union: Games Governments Play in Brussels. Houndmills: Palgrave.
  • Nugent, N. (2006). Goverment and Politics of the European Union. Palgrave, Houndmills.
  • Peterson, J., Shackleton, M. (2006). The Institutions of the European Union. Oxford University Press.
  • Pítrová, L. (2014). Evropská dimenze legislativního procesu. Praha: Leges, 2014.. Praha, Leges.
  • Pitrová, M. a kol. (2014). Postlisabonské procesy v Evropské unii. Brno: Muni press, 2014.. Brno, Muni press.
  • Plechanovová, B. (2004). Institucionální vývoj EU od Maastrichtské smlouvy k východnímu rozšíření.
  • Šlosarčík, I., Kasáková, Z. et al. (2013). Instituce Evropské unie a Lisabonská smlouva. Praha: Grada.
  • Thomson, R. (2011). Resolving Controversy in the European Union: Legislative Decision-Making Before and After Enlargement. Cambridge University Press.
  • Zbíral, R. (2007). Institucionální rámec Evropské unie: právně-politologický pohled.. Linde, Praha.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Law Study plan (Version): European Studies Focusing on European Law (2017) Category: Social sciences 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Winter