Practicalities of Policy Making

Full course description

This skills training has a double objective. First, it gives the students a better understanding of the role of non-elected officials in the EU policymaking process; second, it gives an insight into future job perspectives in Brussels and beyond. Following an introduction by the course coordinator, the course consists of a series of lectures by high-level civil servants from different EU institutions (Council, Commission, European Parliament, etc.) and a lobbyist. The lectures are organised around the following questions: What is the role of the administrative level in political institutions such as the European Parliament, Commission, Council? How do the political and administrative level interact? How does intra and inter-institutional co-ordination take place? What is the accountability of the administrative level? Is there a single European administrative culture? What is the impact of enlargement on the administrative level? Each of the speakers also gives a brief introduction on his/her professional background and career. The lectures are supported by mandatory readings. The course includes a series of tutorials in which the reading material accompanying each of the lectures will be discussed.