About this course: 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
Who is this class for: Whether you live in the EU and are interested in how European policy affects your daily life or you are already an expert in the field looking to update your skills, or want to understand how European Union policy is made and implemented, this course will offer you the theory and practice you need. In keeping with the nature of the material and the purpose of the course, this course is free, and will remain free for participants. If you are interested in receiving a formal certificate, there will be a fee to cover costs.
Created by: Universiteit Leiden
Taught by: Bernard Steunenberg, Professor of Public Administration
Faculty Governance and Global Affairs
| Level | Intermediate |
| Commitment | This course consists of 5 weeks of study, with about 2-3 hours of study required each week. |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
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, 7 readings
- Video: Trailer
- Video: Course introduction
- Reading: Course syllabus
- Reading: Meet the instructors & the team
- Reading: Welcome to Leiden University
- Reading: Tips for studying online
- Reading: Being successful in an international virtual learning community
- Reading: Behaving in an academic way
- Discussion Prompt: Introduce yourself
- Reading: How we grade our quizzes and assignments
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.
5 videos, 3 readings
- Video: How do we understand policy?
- Video: How do we understand decision-making?
- Video: The European policy process in brief
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on the European policy cycle
- Reading: Additional readings
- Video: Introducing the policy dossiers
- Reading: Supporting material for the dossiers
- Discussion Prompt: Motivate your choice of dossier on the forum
- Reading: Do you join us in our research? (Get your ID)
- Video: What is the problem?
Graded: How do we understand policy?
Graded: How do we understand decision-making?
Graded: Policymaking, decision-making and concepts used within the dossier
WEEK 2
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.
5 videos, 4 readings, 1 practice quiz
- Video: What can go wrong with EU decision-making?
- Reading: What can go wrong with EU decision-making
- Video: Sectoral interests in the European Union
- Reading: Sectoral interest in the EU
- Video: Brussels is always in a hurry
- Reading: Brussels is always in a hurry
- Video: EU policymaking from an international perspective
- Reading: EU policymaking from an international perspective
- Discussion Prompt: Proposition about problem solving
- Video: What is the European policy?
- Practice Quiz: Research Assignment 1: The problem
- Discussion Prompt: How big of a problem is obtaining residence rights?
Graded: Sectoral interests in the European Union
Graded: Brussels is always in a hurry
Graded: Main concepts in decision-making
WEEK 3
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’?
8 videos, 4 readings, 1 practice quiz
- Video: What happens after adoption?
- Video: Transposition as interpretation
- Reading: Transposition as interpretation
- Video: Transposition as behavior: a policy perspective on domestic actors
- Reading: Transposition as behavior: a policy perspective on domestic actors
- Video: The Commission shaping European policy
- Reading: The Commission shaping European policy
- Video: The Commission as the guardian of the treaties
- Reading: The Commission as the guardian of the treaties
- Video: How is the European labor mobility policy transposed?
- Video: Walkthrough for assignment 2: What are the goals? (Note: this video is made for air quality, but can still be useful)
- Discussion Prompt: How to do legal research?
- Practice Quiz: Research Assignment 3: How is the policy formulated?
- Video: Walkthrough for assignment 3: How is the policy formulated? (Note: this video is made for air quality, but can still be useful)
- Discussion Prompt: What are the differences in policy between countries?
Graded: Transposition as interpretation
Graded: Transposition as behavior
Graded: The Commission shaping European policy
Graded: Research Assignment 2: What are the goals?
WEEK 4
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.
7 videos, 5 readings
- Video: What can go wrong with implementation?
- Reading: What can go wrong with implementation?
- Video: Time, capacity and culture
- Reading: Time, capacity and culture
- Video: Policy fit and related explanations
- Reading: Policy fit and related explanations
- Video: Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players
- Reading: Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players
- Video: Involvement of regional and local governments in implementation
- Reading: Involvement of regional and local governments in implementation
- Video: How is the European labor mobility policy nationally organized?
- Video: How is the European labor mobility policy implemented?
- Discussion Prompt: Discuss your research findings with others
Graded: Time, capacity and culture
Graded: Policy fit and related explanations
Graded: Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players
Graded: Wiki on the organization of implementation
Graded: Research Assignment 4: Implementation
WEEK 5
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.
6 videos, 5 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Video: How can EU policymaking be redesigned?
- Reading: How can EU policy be redesigned?
- Video: Better regulation: Legislation that will deliver?
- Reading: Better regulation: legislation that will deliver?
- Video: Consultations, impact assessments, and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?
- Reading: Consultations, impact assessment and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?
- Video: Experimentation for better results
- Video: Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality
- Reading: Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality
- Practice Quiz: Research Assignment 5: Why are there differences?
- Video: How can we improve labor mobility policy?
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect and propose: what would you recommend?
- Discussion Prompt: Up-vote and reward proposals
- Reading: Our best policy recommendations
- Practice Quiz: Course Reflection
Graded: Better regulation: legislation that will deliver?
Graded: Consulations, impact assessments and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?
Graded: Experimentation for better results
Graded: Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality
Graded: What are the causes of differences?
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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.
Ratings and Reviews
Great course, learned a lot about the mechanisms of policy formulation and implementation in EU and got excited about implementation in my area!
Great course. A lot of lecture, very good speaker. Concrete exemple.
Need a high involvement.
Great course, I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot about policymaking and policy implementation.
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MM
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.