EU policy and implementation: making Europe work!

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/eu-making-europe-work

Introduction

### Course Review: EU Policy and Implementation: Making Europe Work! In an era of increasing skepticism towards supranational governance and a rising preference for local policy solutions, understanding the intricacies of European Union (EU) policymaking has never been more crucial. "EU Policy and Implementation: Making Europe Work!" offered on Coursera is an enlightening course that dives deep into the decision-making processes of the EU and how these policies are implemented across member states. This course is highly relevant for anyone interested in political science, European studies, public policy, or simply understanding how our international legislative environment operates. #### Course Overview The course is structured to engage learners in exploring the formation and execution of EU policies. It begins with a welcoming module, enabling students to familiarize themselves with the platform and connect with fellow classmates. From there, the syllabus is divided into five key sections: an introduction to EU policy concepts, an exploration of EU decision-making, the transposition of directives, the implementation process, and a final reflection on redesigning EU policymaking. #### Detailed Review of Syllabus Topics 1. **Understanding Policy and the European Policy Process**: The course kicks off by introducing foundational concepts of policy and the legislative process. This module sets the stage by discussing the complexities involved in decision-making at various levels, emphasizing the imperfect nature of outcomes. This discussion is essential for grasping the multi-layered processes that characterize EU governance. 2. **EU Decision-Making**: Here, learners investigate potential pitfalls within the EU decision-making framework. It highlights the pressing need for timely decisions, while also considering how time constraints may compromise the quality of outcomes. The inclusion of international contexts provides a comprehensive understanding of the EU's operational dynamics amid global pressures. 3. **Transposition**: After a directive's adoption, the transposition phase into national law is a critical focus. This section examines both legal and policy perspectives on how EU laws are translated into domestic legislation. Understanding the role of the European Commission as a supervisory body during this phase offers learners a realistic view of the challenges involved in maintaining compliance among diverse member states. 4. **Implementation**: Delving into the factors influencing successful or failed policy execution, this module examines systemic, institutional, and behavioral elements that impact implementation. The role of regional and local governments in this process is noteworthy, exposing the multi-dimensional challenges facing EU policy in practical contexts. 5. **Redesigning EU Policymaking**: The final segment is forward-looking, prompting students to think critically about potential reforms in EU policymaking. Discussions surrounding the Better Regulation Agenda, which aims to enhance the legislative process through evaluations and impact assessments, encourage learners to engage with contemporary debates in EU governance. This section fosters analytical thinking about the evolution of European policymaking in response to emerging challenges. #### Learning Experience The course is structured to be interactive, with plenty of opportunities for peer engagement through forums. This collaborative aspect enriches the learning experience, allowing for diverse perspectives on complex issues. The professors are knowledgeable and articulate, providing a strong foundation for each topic and facilitating meaningful discussions. #### Conclusion: Why You Should Enroll "EU Policy and Implementation: Making Europe Work!" is not just for students of political science—it is invaluable for policymakers, activists, and citizens who wish to better understand the frameworks that shape their lives. Given the evolving context of EU policies and growing interest in local governance solutions, this course equips learners with the knowledge to navigate and potentially influence these changes. With its comprehensive analysis of the EU policy process, real-world implications, and future-focused discussions, I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of European governance. It is an opportunity to not only learn but also to engage critically with the pressures and possibilities of making European policies work effectively for all member states. Enroll today and contribute to the conversation about reshaping the future of EU policymaking!

Syllabus

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!

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.

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.

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’?

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.

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.