About this course: People have become more critical of European policy and often seem to prefer local policy solutions in response to globalisation problems. How do you experience EU policy? Does it help? And if not, how can we change this? In this course, we learn how EU policy is made, and how policy is transferred to member states and implemented by various authorities, including regional and local governments. We discuss the challenges of the European multi-level governance structure. We also focus on the main causes of policy failure or success. On this journey, we focus on actual policy and present the views of various experts: how easy is it to establish yourself in another EU-country? How do governments make sure that the air you breathe is clean? And who is responsible? You will be able to do research together in your own local setting. Research on implementation in which you can make comparisons between different countries or areas. If you live outside the EU, this is not a problem. We have developed assignments in such a way that you can do research in your area and compare your findings with others. So, are you curious? Please join: 'EU policy and implementation: making Europe work'. Watch our trailer video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3nSN9R3VR4

Who is this class for: Whether you live in the EU and are interested in how European policy affects your daily life or you are already an expert in the field looking to update your skills, or want to understand how European Union policy is made and implemented, this course will offer you the theory and practice you need. In keeping with the nature of the material and the purpose of the course, this course is free, and will remain free for participants. If you are interested in receiving a formal certificate, there will be a fee to cover costs.

Created by: Universiteit Leiden

Taught by: Bernard Steunenberg, Professor of Public Administration
Faculty Governance and Global Affairs

Level	Intermediate
Commitment	This course consists of 5 weeks of study, with about 2-3 hours of study required each week.
Language	English
How To Pass	Pass all graded assignments to complete the course.
User Ratings	4.1 stars Average User Rating 4.1See what learners said

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Welcome to this course

Great that you are joining us! In this course you will learn about the fascinating process of European policy-making and implementation. Before you start studying we invite you to go through our introduction module first. Please introduce yourself on the forum to meet your fellow learners. If you encounter any difficulties while studying, please let us know on the forum. For technical difficulties or questions regarding the course certificate, you can always contact the Coursera Learner Helpdesk. Good luck and we hope you will enjoy studying in this course!

2 videos, 7 readings

Video: Trailer
Video: Course introduction
Reading: Course syllabus
Reading: Meet the instructors & the team
Reading: Welcome to Leiden University
Reading: Tips for studying online
Reading: Being successful in an international virtual learning community
Reading: Behaving in an academic way
Discussion Prompt: Introduce yourself
Reading: How we grade our quizzes and assignments

Understanding policy and the European policy process

The course starts by introducing the main concepts such as policy and the policy process, and includes a discussion of what decision-making is. It is shown that in making a decision the decided outcome is not always the most socially desirable state of affairs. This is important to understand in order to appreciate the imperfections of decision-making at the various levels of the European policy process. Furthermore, we explore the European multi-level policy process, as a starting point for the more specialized lectures in the subsequent weeks. In this week, students are also introduced to the policy dossiers to make their choice.

5 videos, 3 readings

Video: How do we understand policy?
Video: How do we understand decision-making?
Video: The European policy process in brief
Discussion Prompt: Reflect on the European policy cycle
Reading: Additional readings
Video: Introducing the policy dossiers
Reading: Supporting material for the dossiers
Discussion Prompt: Motivate your choice of dossier on the forum
Reading: Do you join us in our research? (Get your ID)
Video: What is the problem?

Graded: How do we understand policy?

Graded: How do we understand decision-making?

Graded: Policymaking, decision-making and concepts used within the dossier

WEEK 2

EU Decision-making

Focusing on EU decision-making, the main question is: what can go wrong in the European decision-making process over legal measures? The lectures pay attention to the role of sectoral interests in the EU, and time. Policymakers often seem to be in a hurry, which may impact the choices that are made. Furthermore, in the last lecture we turn our perspective to the international context within which the EU operates. International agreements, for example, can be yet another source for further European legislation.

5 videos, 4 readings, 1 practice quiz

Video: What can go wrong with EU decision-making?
Reading: What can go wrong with EU decision-making
Video: Sectoral interests in the European Union
Reading: Sectoral interest in the EU
Video: Brussels is always in a hurry
Reading: Brussels is always in a hurry
Video: EU policymaking from an international perspective
Reading: EU policymaking from an international perspective
Discussion Prompt: Proposition about problem solving
Video: What is the European policy?
Practice Quiz: Research Assignment 1: The problem
Discussion Prompt: How big of a problem is obtaining residence rights?

Graded: Sectoral interests in the European Union

Graded: Brussels is always in a hurry

Graded: Main concepts in decision-making

WEEK 3

Transposition

Once legal measures have been adopted, the question arises as to what will happen next? For EU directives, the formal requirements need to be transformed into national legislation by member states. We discuss both a legal and a policy perspective on transposition, which provide rather different perspectives on this work. Adopted legal measures may also require further specification, which brings us to the preparation and adoption of delegated and implementing acts. For these acts the European Commission plays an important role. Finally, we look into the role of the European Commission as an actor overseeing transposition in the member states. Does the Commission act as the ‘guardian of the treaties’?

8 videos, 4 readings, 1 practice quiz

Video: What happens after adoption?
Video: Transposition as interpretation
Reading: Transposition as interpretation
Video: Transposition as behavior: a policy perspective on domestic actors
Reading: Transposition as behavior: a policy perspective on domestic actors
Video: The Commission shaping European policy
Reading: The Commission shaping European policy
Video: The Commission as the guardian of the treaties
Reading: The Commission as the guardian of the treaties
Video: How is the European labor mobility policy transposed?
Video: Walkthrough for assignment 2: What are the goals? (Note: this video is made for air quality, but can still be useful)
Discussion Prompt: How to do legal research?
Practice Quiz: Research Assignment 3: How is the policy formulated?
Video: Walkthrough for assignment 3: How is the policy formulated? (Note: this video is made for air quality, but can still be useful)
Discussion Prompt: What are the differences in policy between countries?

Graded: Transposition as interpretation

Graded: Transposition as behavior

Graded: The Commission shaping European policy

Graded: Research Assignment 2: What are the goals?

WEEK 4

Implementation

What can go wrong with implementation? In this week, we focus on the main causes of policy failure and success by discussing three different groups of theories. These address systemic features, such as time, capacity and culture, institutional or normative features related to groups and behavioral features. Each group of possible features is briefly explained and discussed in the lectures. Furthermore, attention is given to the involvement of regional and local governments in the implementation of European policy within member states, which provides yet another challenge to European policy implementation.

7 videos, 5 readings

Video: What can go wrong with implementation?
Reading: What can go wrong with implementation?
Video: Time, capacity and culture
Reading: Time, capacity and culture
Video: Policy fit and related explanations
Reading: Policy fit and related explanations
Video: Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players
Reading: Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players
Video: Involvement of regional and local governments in implementation
Reading: Involvement of regional and local governments in implementation
Video: How is the European labor mobility policy nationally organized?
Video: How is the European labor mobility policy implemented?
Discussion Prompt: Discuss your research findings with others

Graded: Time, capacity and culture

Graded: Policy fit and related explanations

Graded: Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players

Graded: Wiki on the organization of implementation

Graded: Research Assignment 4: Implementation

WEEK 5

Redesigning EU policymaking

Having experienced the European policy process from European lawmaking to regional and perhaps local implementation, the last week reflects on ways to improve EU policymaking. How can EU policy, but also the policy process be redesigned? What is currently discussed in Brussels? And what are the options? The students will first be introduced to the Better Regulation Agenda of the European Commission, which also aims to improve policymaking. Three different directions of change are discussed in the lectures: (a) the ambition to close the European policy cycle by connecting ex-post evaluations with consultations and impact assessments as tools to prepare for new legislation; (b) introducing more experimentation to obtain better results, and (c) focusing on decentralization as a way of bringing back policymaking power to member states, regional governments or even local government.

6 videos, 5 readings, 2 practice quizzes

Video: How can EU policymaking be redesigned?
Reading: How can EU policy be redesigned?
Video: Better regulation: Legislation that will deliver?
Reading: Better regulation: legislation that will deliver?
Video: Consultations, impact assessments, and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?
Reading: Consultations, impact assessment and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?
Video: Experimentation for better results
Video: Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality
Reading: Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality
Practice Quiz: Research Assignment 5: Why are there differences?
Video: How can we improve labor mobility policy?
Discussion Prompt: Reflect and propose: what would you recommend?
Discussion Prompt: Up-vote and reward proposals
Reading: Our best policy recommendations
Practice Quiz: Course Reflection

Graded: Better regulation: legislation that will deliver?

Graded: Consulations, impact assessments and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?

Graded: Experimentation for better results

Graded: Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality

Graded: What are the causes of differences?

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Universiteit Leiden

Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge in applying for academic posts and for functions outside academia. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It was founded in February 1575, as a gift from William of Orange to the citizens of Leiden after they had withstood a long siege by the Spanish. Our motto is: Praesidium Libertatis — Bastion of Liberty.

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Rated 4.1 out of 5 of 22 ratings