European Studies ( 261213)

Learning Outcomes

  • Do you know what the European Union is?

  • Do you know its responsibilities?

  • Do you know the human rights on which it is founded?

  • Do you know how it functions?

  • Do you know its institutions?

  • Do you know about the euro and sovereign debt crisis?

  • Do you know the challenges of the future and the values it upholds?

Study Program

I. The Evolution of the European Idea

  1. European integration after 1945. Post-war Europe.

  2. The Marshall Plan.

  3. The creation of the ECSC. The Schuman Declaration.

  4. The failure of the European Defence Community and the European Political Community.

II. The Creation of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community in the Treaty of Rome (1957)

  1. European integration from 1957 to 1985.

  2. The creation of EFTA and the first enlargement led by Great Britain.

  3. The accession of Portugal and Spain (1986).

  4. The Single European Act of 1985 and the difficulties of accession.

  5. The solutions of the Delors Project.

  6. Solidarity and economic and social cohesion. The new role of the structural funds.

III. From the Single European Act to the Maastricht Treaty

  1. German reunification.

  2. The creation of the euro (1992–2002).

  3. The fourth enlargement and the European Economic Area.

  4. The Treaty of Nice and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

  5. The European Convention on the Future of Europe (2003).

  6. The Draft Constitution and the 2004 Intergovernmental Conference.

  7. The enlargement to Eastern and Central Europe (2004).

  8. The issue of ratifications.

IV. The European Union and the Treaty of Lisbon

  1. The Major Principles of the Union

    1. Democracy and respect for human rights.

    2. The values of the Union.

    3. Respect for the national identity of the Member States.

    4. Loyal cooperation.

    5. Solidarity. Economic and social cohesion.

  2. The European Council. The President of the European Council

    1. The European Council from the perspective of the European Constitution and the Treaty of Lisbon.

    2. Rotating presidencies.

    3. The President and his/her functions.

  3. The Commission

    1. Composition and appointment under the Treaty of Lisbon.

    2. The powers of the Commission: Guardian of the Treaties and the right of initiative.

V. The Council of Ministers

  1. Composition and functioning under the Treaty of Lisbon.

  2. COREPER.

  3. The powers of the Council.

  4. Simple and qualified majorities. The right of veto.

VI. The European Parliament

  1. Election by universal suffrage.

  2. Composition.

  3. Powers
    3.1. The ordinary consultation procedure.
    3.2. The cooperation procedure.
    3.4. The co-decision procedure.
    3.5. Budgetary powers.

VII. The Financing of Community Policies

  1. The system of own resources and its updates.

  2. The issue of financing. The British question.

  3. The European Central Bank. The Stability and Growth Pact.

  4. Agricultural policy.

  5. Structural policies.

  6. Foreign policy. The CFSP and the High Representative.

  7. The Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Treaty of Lisbon.

VIII. Environmental Protection

  1. Nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

  2. Protection on a global scale.

  3. Protection of the ozone layer.

  4. Climate protection in the face of atmospheric warming.

  5. Protection of biodiversity.

  6. The fight against desertification.

  7. Protection of freshwater: rivers and lakes.

  8. Protection of the marine environment.

  9. Protection of natural species and ecosystems.

  10. Protection of the polar environment.

Bibliography

-Fulbrook, M., 2009, A Europa desde 1945”, Colecção “História da Europa, Oxford, Ed. Fio da Palavra
-Marinho, L., 2003, Europa na Hora da Verdade. Texto do Projecto de Constituição Europeia elaborado pela Convenção, Minerva, Coimbra
- Martin, M.; Nogueras, L., 2005, Institutiones y Derecho de la Unión Europea, Tecnos, Madrid, 5ª edición
-Velasco, M., 2005, Institutiones y Derecho de la Unión Europea, Tecnos, Madrid
-Machado, J., 2003, Direito Internacional. Do Paradigma Clássico ao Pós-11 de Setembro, Coimbra Editora
-Horváth, Z., 2005, Manuel Sur L´Union Européenne. Hvgorac, Budapeste
- Silva, M., 2010, História da Unificação Europeia. Imprensa da Univ. de Coimbra, Coimbra