The economic and social governance of the european union in times of crisis

The course examines the EU integration process and the evolution of economic governance in Europe after the outbreak of the financial and economic crisis, up to the recent Covid-19 pandemic. The course provides a broad understanding of the political, economic and social dimensions of European economic governance and equip students with all the fundamentals to critically assess the ongoing transforming process that is affecting European economic integration. A strong policy orientation will be combined with a political economy perspective in order to show students that the economic governance in the Union is not a politically neutral process. Special emphasis will be given to the current pandemic crisis and how the EU responded to it. We will explore the impact of the crisis on the European economy and society, look at the policy responses at national level and examine the response at the EU level.
The course is particularly suited for students with an interest in the European Union and in having a working experience in the EU institutions or in Brussels-based think tanks.

By the end of this course, having completed the essential reading list and attended classes, students should be able to:
· Knowledge and understanding: Students acquire a basic knowledge and understanding of the integration process and of the economic and political rationale for the establishment of the Economic and Monetary Union. The course will focus mainly on the EU's key policies, instruments and underlying economic models, which emerged in the aftermath of the financial crisis. A particular attention will also be devoted to the interplay between economic integration and the national welfare state.
· Applying knowledge and understanding: Students are expected to acquire a critical understanding of the evolution of the EU economic governance, and especially the interplay between economic and social policies. Through the critical analysis of EU official documents and the review of the most relevant policy papers, students are expected to learn how to apply their knowledge to recognize, contextualize, explain, and interpret political, societal and economic phenomena in European integration. They can critically assess the latest policy developments.
· Making judgements: By reading official EU documents and relevant academic literature, students will get familiar to EU sources (notably the EurLex database) and will be able to understand the different phases of the EU decision making, identify the relevant actors involved and understand their role. This will help them in making judgements that are consistent with the empirical evidence.
· Communication skills: Students will learn to present and discuss EU official documents and relevant policy papers included in the syllabus. Students will also engage in small group assignments, thus developing skills of planning, organization, prioritization and time management.
· Learning skills: Students are expected to learn to evaluate and asses autonomously EU policies in the field of economic and social governance. Students should also improve their analytical skills and capabilities, so that they could be apply them in a range of situations and environments.