EU policy and implementation: making Europe work!
4.3
54 ratings
EU policy and implementation: making Europe work!
Universiteit Leiden
Acerca de este Curso
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
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1
Section
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 (Total 8 min), 9 readings
9 readings
Course syllabus10m
Honors Track Syllabus5m
Meet the instructors & the team2m
Welcome to Leiden University3m
Complete our short survey10m
Tips for studying online5m
Being successful in an international virtual learning community5m
Behaving in an academic way5m
How we grade your quizzes and assignments10m
2
Section
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.
7 videos (Total 68 min), 6 readings, 4 quizzes
7 videos
How do we understand decision-making?7m
The European policy process in brief7m
Introducing the policy dossiers5m
What is the problem?16m
What is the problem?16m
What is the problem?6m
6 readings
Required readings45m
The Honors Track5m
Honors Track: Do you join us in our research? (Get your ID)5m
Required readings supporting the dossier20m
Required readings supporting the dossier20m
Required readings supporting the dossier20m
6 practice exercises
How do we understand policy?6m
How do we understand decision-making?6m
End quiz week 130m
The residence dossier30m
The posting of workers dossier30m
The air quality dossier30m
3
Section
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.
8 videos (Total 75 min), 4 readings, 4 quizzes
8 videos
Sectoral interests in the European Union6m
Brussels is always in a hurry6m
EU policymaking from an international perspective6m
What is the European policy?18m
What is the European policy?16m
What is the European policy?6m
Walkthrough for your assignment: What is the problem?6m
4 readings
Required reading: What can go wrong with EU decision-making30m
Required reading: Sectoral interest in the EU30m
Required reading: Brussels is always in a hurry45m
Required reading: EU policymaking from an international perspective15m
6 practice exercises
Sectoral interests in the European Union6m
Brussels is always in a hurry6m
End quiz week 230m
Research Assignment 1: The problem30m
Research Assignment 1: The problem30m
Research Assignment 1: The problem30m
4
Section
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’?
10 videos (Total 109 min), 4 readings, 5 quizzes
10 videos
Transposition as interpretation6m
Transposition as behavior: a policy perspective on domestic actors7m
The Commission shaping European policy7m
The Commission as the guardian of the treaties7m
How is the European labor mobility policy transposed?23m
How is the European labor mobility policy transposed?23m
How is the European air quality policy transposed?13m
Walkthrough for assignment 2: What are the goals?6m
Walkthrough for Assignment 3: How is the policy formulated?5m
4 readings
Required reading: Transposition as interpretation0m
Required reading: Transposition as behavior: a policy perspective on domestic actors30m
Required reading: The Commission shaping European policy45m
Required reading: The Commission as the guardian of the treaties45m
10 practice exercises
Transposition as interpretation6m
Transposition as behavior12m
The Commission shaping European policy6m
End quiz week 330m
Research Assignment 2: What are the goals?30m
Research assignment 3: How is the policy formulated?45m
Research Assignment 2: What are the goals?30m
Research Assignment 3: How is the policy formulated?45m
Research Assignment 2: What are the goals?30m
Research Assignment 3: How is the policy formulated?45m
5
Section
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.
12 videos (Total 176 min), 5 readings, 6 quizzes
12 videos
Time, capacity and culture7m
Policy fit and related explanations7m
Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players8m
Involvement of regional and local governments in implementation6m
How is the European labor mobility policy nationally organized?22m
How is the European labor mobility policy implemented?27m
How is the labor mobility policy nationally organized?22m
How is the European labor mobility policy implemented?27m
How is the implementation of the European air quality policy organized?14m
How is the European air quality policy implemented?20m
Walkthrough for assignment 4: Implementation4m
5 readings
Required reading: What can go wrong with implementation?0m
Required reading: Time, capacity and culture45m
Required reading: Policy fit and related explanations45m
Required reading: Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players45m
Required reading: Involvement of regional and local governments in implementation0m
8 practice exercises
Time, capacity and culture21m
Policy fit and related explanations8m
Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players8m
Wiki on the organization of implementation45m
End quiz week 430m
Research Assignment 4: Implementation30m
Research Assignment 4: Implementation30m
Research Assignment 4: Implementation30m
6
Section
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.
7 videos (Total 73 min), 5 readings, 7 quizzes
7 videos
Better regulation: Legislation that will deliver?7m
Consultations, impact assessments, and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?8m
Experimentation for better results7m
Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality6m
How can we improve labor mobility policy?20m
How can we improve air quality policy?14m
5 readings
Required reading: Better regulation: legislation that will deliver?0m
Required reading: Consultations, impact assessment and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?30m
Required reading: Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality0m
Complete our short survey10m
Our best policy recommendations10m
8 practice exercises
Better regulation: legislation that will deliver?10m
Consulations, impact assessments and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?10m
Experimentation for better results8m
Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality12m
End quiz week 530m
Assignment 5: Why are there differences?2m
Assignment 5: Why are there differences?2m
Course Reflection5m
4.3
Top Reviews
By MM•Aug 17th 2017
Great course! It offers you important knowledge about the EU policy making process and shows and explains you the tools you need for a good analysis and which will help you to get the best results.
By AS•Apr 28th 2017
Great course, I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot about policymaking and policy implementation.
Instructor
Bernard Steunenberg
Professor of Public AdministrationAbout 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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