European Union External Action

Zunanje delovanje EU

Course credits:

6.00 ECTS / 60 (25 hours of lectures, 35 hours of exercises, 0 hours of seminars, 0 hours other forms of work)

Course holder:

doc. dr. Jure Požgan

Type:

Elective expert

Language:

English

Semester:

Second semester

Study degree

1. level

Course execution:

• Undergraduate Programme of International Relations

Prerequisits:

Students are allowed to participate in the course provided that they have completed the enrolment procedure. This course within the European integration module builds up the knowledge acquired within elementary courses Introduction to the EU and Foreign Policy. At the same time the course is horizontally linked to courses which offer understandings of structural conditions for EU external action (International Protection of Human Rights, International Economic Relations, International Organisations with Practicum, Diplomatic and Consular Relations and International Political Economy).

Objectives and competences

The objectives of the course are: to give students an overview of knowledge about the evolution of the EU external action, about the institutional framework of external dimensions of various sectoral policies or foreign policy itself and about the legal framework, determining the latter; to equip students with conceptual understanding of the EU external action phenomenon. to qualify students for independent empirical analysis and policy prescription of EU external action including identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis) in a chosen case. Competences, acquired by students: ability to prepare a longer analytical written assignment (policy paper); gathering, analysing and evaluating the data, relevant for understanding, explanation and policy-prescription of EU’s EA; ability of oral and written expression; ability of individual and group analytical work, discussion and negotiation.

Content (Syllabus outline)

Definition and development of European Union External Action (EU EA) via evolution of internal EU policies, external dimensions of internal EU policies, EU external relations and EU foreign policy. Positioning the EU EA into EU Treaty framework. Institutional and substantive aspects of the EU EA; political process within the main arenas of the EU EA via horizontal analysis (areas of EU EA) and via vertical analysis (EU policies). Conceptualisation of the EU as a foreign policy subject (EU as a state, international organization or sui generis foreign policy actor). Conceptualization of the EU actorness; opportunities, capabilities, presence. Vertical analysis of EU EA arenas: trade policy, development, environment, energy, agriculture, justice and home affairs; EU foreign policies: EU enlargement policy, European neighbourhood policy and CSFP/CSDP. Horizontal analysis of EU EA arenas: EU relations with Western Balkans, Mediterranean and Eastern Partnership, Black Sea), cooperation with the African Caribbean and Pacific states (EU-ACP), interregionalism EU-ASEAN, EU-MERCOSUR and EU-Africa summit, EU's strategic partnerships and transatlantic relations.

Intended learning outcomes:

Student: comprehends the historical grounding, legal and institutional framework of European Union External Action (EU EA) evolution; comprehends conceptual aspects of EU EA and is able to differentiate between theoretical foundations for the analysis of specific arenas of EU EA through the elements of a) domestic policymaking process and b) foreign policy-making process; applies conceptual apparatus of EU actorness to independent SWOT analysis of chosen cases of EU EA; summarizes and evaluates findings of SWOT analysis and makes policy prescription for EU EA in a chosen case; can answer following questions: how and under what conditions and in which policy areas and territories EU actively performs in international relations and what are the outcomes of such EU action.

Learning and teaching methods:

Lectures, tutorials, individual and group work, and thematic workshops.

Assessment

Final mark consists of: - oral exam 50 % - policy paper (written assignment) 40 % - active oral participation in thematic workshops 10 % To be eligible for final examination students have to receive at least 50 % for their written assignment.

Obligatory literature

Additional literature