Course : THE EUROPEAN POLICIES OF THE EU MEMBER-STATES

This course is taught in English.

Students may submit their essays in either English or Greek.

Erasmus students should note that the class is equivalent to 6 ECTS.

Course Content

In the aftermath of the 2016 Brexit referendum and following the rise of eurosceptic forces across Europe, the question of why national governments choose to participate in European integration has gained new significance. Moreover, the last few years of continuing crisis have underlined the differences of views among the national governments about what kind of European Union they want.

This course introduces students in turn to all the EU member-states. It examines the range of different national approaches to European integration with a focus on the perceptions and goals of national governments in relation to the past, present and future of integration. Special emphasis is given to understanding the factors which shape national policies.

This year's course themes will include national positions towards recent and current integration crises as well as the rise of euroscepticism in different national contexts.

Form

The course is seminar-based and assumes active student participation. It offers participants the opportunity to carry out an individual research project in the framework of an organised collective project. Each student chooses a specific EU member-state and investigates its official European policy.

Goals

• To introduce students to all the European states which currently belong to the European Union.
• To gain an understanding of the broad range of national positions towards European integration.
• To deepen students' understanding of European integration by viewing it from the perspective of the member-states.
• To present some of the major debates currently taking place within the EU from different national viewpoints.
• To acquire an initial experience of academic research.