European Union External Relations

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 1	Knut Traisbach	Derecho	ENG

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM

The EU is a unique actor in international relations. It is one of the biggest economic areas in the world and can be a very influential actor internationally. The external competencies of the EU reflect clearly the peculiar characteristics of the EU: a continuous tension between intergovernmental and community methods of governance.
The course is an introduction to EU External Relations. We will start with a short overview over the central actors, decision-making processes and instruments that shape EU external relations. We then move towards a discussion of several policy areas in which the EU is active in its foreign relations. The course also introduces you to foreign policy analysis, as well as policy advise and strategy-making in foreign policy.
There will be a strong emphasis on problem-based and practical learning, including two class simulations of decision-making in EU external relations and EU responses to international crisis situations.

Course Learning Objectives

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After the course, students should be able to
- explain the basic structures and dynamics of EU external relations;
- recognise the different underlying actors, instruments and decision-making dynamics when analyzing cases or current affairs;
- critically analyze the different policy areas of EU external activities and how the role of actors, competencies and rule-making change;
- organize and adapt their arguments in a discussion, according to different policy areas and objectives of EU external relations;
- be able to apply knowledge and arguments to foreign policy analysis, policy advice and strategy making in EU external relations.

CONTENT

1. PLEASE NOTE: Depending on the final planning by PD, it might be that every two sessions of 1.5h will be joined into one long session of 2.5h. Depending on the final planning by PD, it might be that every two sessions of 1.5h will be joined into one long session of 2.5h.
2. Course Overview and Introduction: History and Nature of EU Foreign Policy
3. Competence, Actors, Decision-Making and Instruments I
4. Competence, Actors, Decision-Making and Instruments II
5. Competence, Actors, Decision-Making and Instruments III
6. External Dimensions of EU Internal Policies
7. The EU and other International Organizations
8. Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
9. Common Foreign and Security Policy II (CFSP)
10. Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)
11. Enlargement Policy
12. Neighbourhood Policy
13. Foreign Policy Analysis, Advice and Strategy-Making
14. Midterm Test
15. Trade and Development
16. Promotion of the Rule of Law, Democracy and Human Rights
17. Fight against Disinformation
18. Invited Lecturer, Union of the Mediterranean (UfM) (tbc)
19. Case study: Border Control, Migration and Asylum
20. International Security and Peace Mediation
21. Discussion Midterm test
22. Case study: EU-Russia Relations - Between Energy Dependence and Political Rivalry
23. EU-China Relations
24. Environmental Protection / Health and Covid-19
25. Current and Future Challenges of EU Foreign Affairs / Course Conclusion

1. PLEASE NOTE: Depending on the final planning by PD, it might be that every two sessions of 1.5h will be joined into one long session of 2.5h.

Depending on the final planning by PD, it might be that every two sessions of 1.5h will be joined into one long session of 2.5h.

2. Course Overview and Introduction: History and Nature of EU Foreign Policy

3. Competence, Actors, Decision-Making and Instruments I

4. Competence, Actors, Decision-Making and Instruments II

5. Competence, Actors, Decision-Making and Instruments III

6. External Dimensions of EU Internal Policies

7. The EU and other International Organizations

8. Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)

9. Common Foreign and Security Policy II (CFSP)

10. Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)

11. Enlargement Policy

12. Neighbourhood Policy

13. Foreign Policy Analysis, Advice and Strategy-Making

14. Midterm Test

15. Trade and Development

16. Promotion of the Rule of Law, Democracy and Human Rights

17. Fight against Disinformation

18. Invited Lecturer, Union of the Mediterranean (UfM) (tbc)

19. Case study: Border Control, Migration and Asylum

20. International Security and Peace Mediation

21. Discussion Midterm test

22. Case study: EU-Russia Relations - Between Energy Dependence and Political Rivalry

23. EU-China Relations

24. Environmental Protection / Health and Covid-19

25. Current and Future Challenges of EU Foreign Affairs / Course Conclusion

Methodology

Class sessions will consist of lectures, debates (with the entire class and within smaller groups), problem analysis, simulations and assignments. The sessions will be devoted to learning, challenging and applying the different aspects of EU external relations. Simulation exercises will give students the opportunity to apply and deepen their competencies to real world situations, and they will allow students to test their understanding and knowledge with other class members.

Description	%
Attendance, active class participation, in-class activities	12
Final exam	35
Continuous assessment: in-class controls, midterm, presentations	53

Assessment criteria

Evaluation of student work will be weighed in the following manner:

Attendance and active class participation 12%
- Attendance
- Active Participation during sessions
- Submitted activities/assignments during sessions

Continuous Assessments 53%
- Weekly Quizzes
- Presentation
- Midterm

Final Exam 35% (with minimum of 4 points to pass the course)
Students need to achieve at least a grade of 4 points (out of 10) in the final exam in order to pass the course.
Students who have attended in-person less than 70% of classes (independently whether the missed classes are excused or unexcused), need to achieve at least a grade of 5 points (out of 10) in the final exam to pass the course.

Late submissions of assignments will not be accepted after the deadline, unless an exception has been requested and granted before the deadline.

Students can participate in the final exam only if they have attended at least 80% of classes. The resit exam requires an attendance of at least 50% of classes.
In case students cannot attend a class, they must inform Programme Direction and the professor by email in advance and provide the necessary justification (e.g. medical certificate). Accepted reasons for class absence include illness, major life events (e.g. births and deaths), ESADE activities for which the student has the written approval from the Programme Direction.
Other events that can be scheduled at another time (e.g. personal trips, job interviews, doctor's appointments etc.) will not be accepted as a justified reasons of absence.

In case of unforeseen events that affect the teaching activities, the teaching schedule and the teaching guide may be modified to address the situation.

Type:	OBL	Curs:	3	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	4 ECTS

European Union External Relations (2235.YR.013004.2)

General information

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Prerequisites

Previous Knowledge

Workload distribution