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Bernard Steunenberg

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EU policy and implementation: making Europe work!

Universiteit Leiden

About this Course

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People have become more critical of EU 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 the European Union prepares and decides on policy, 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. 

This MOOC has been rated as one of the best MOOCs of 2017 and is currently in the Top 50 MOOCs of All Time of Class Central

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

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Shareable Certificate

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Intermediate Level

Approx. 55 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Intermediate Level

Approx. 55 hours to complete

English

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Instructor

Instructor rating

4.53/5 (27 Ratings)

Bernard Steunenberg

Professor of Public Administration

Faculty Governance and Global Affairs

15,090 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

Universiteit Leiden

Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge and prepares them for careers both within and outside of academia. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands, founded in 1575. Our motto is: Praesidium Libertatis (Bastion of Liberty) - Freedom of spirit, thought and expression. Leiden University has a campus in Leiden and The Hague, with 7 faculties, 47 Bachelor Programmes, 79 Master Programmes and nearly 30,000 students.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating93%(1,412 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

2 hours to complete

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 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 10 min), 7 readings

Week2

Week 2

7 hours to complete

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.

7 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 58 min), 4 readings, 8 quizzes

7 videos

How do we understand policy?6mHow do we understand decision-making?7mThe European policy process in brief7mIntroducing the policy dossiers5mWhat is the problem? Residence rights and posting dossiers16mWhat is the problem? Air quality dossier6mWalkthrough for your assignment 1: Example for Air Quality dossier6m

4 readings

Required readings45mThe Honors Track10mHonors Track: Do you join us in our research? (Get your ID)5mRequired readings supporting the dossiers45m

8 practice exercises

How do we understand policy?6mHow do we understand decision-making?6mEnd quiz week 130mResearch Assignment 1: What is the problem? Residence rights dossier1hResearch Assignment 1: What is the problem? Posting dossier1hResearch Assignment 1: What is the problem? Air quality dossier1hTest your policy knowledge: exercise 130mFinish this module5m

Week3

Week 3

9 hours to complete

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.

9 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 58 min), 4 readings, 8 quizzes

7 videos

What can go wrong with EU decision-making?6mSectoral interests in the European Union6mBrussels is always in a hurry6mEU policymaking from an international perspective6mWhat is the European policy? Residence rights and posting dossiers18mWhat is the European policy? Air quality dossier6mWalkthrough for assignment 2: Example for air quality dossier6m

4 readings

Required reading: What can go wrong with EU decision-making30mRequired reading: Sectoral interest in the EU30mRequired reading: Brussels is always in a hurry45mRequired reading: EU policymaking from an international perspective15m

8 practice exercises

Sectoral interests in the European Union6mBrussels is always in a hurry6mEnd quiz week 230mResearch Assignment 2: What are the goals? Residence rights dossier1h 30mResearch Assignment 2: What are the goals? Posting dossier1h 30mResearch Assignment 2: What are the goals? Air quality dossier1h 30mTest your policy knowledge: exercise 230mFinish this module5m

Week4

Week 4

13 hours to complete

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’?

13 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 74 min), 4 readings, 8 quizzes

7 videos

What happens after adoption?7mTransposition as interpretation6mTransposition as behavior: a policy perspective on domestic actors7mThe Commission shaping European policy7mThe Commission as the guardian of the treaties7mHow is the European policy transposed? Residence rights and posting dossier23mHow is the European policy transposed? Air quality dossier13m

4 readings

Required reading: Transposition as interpretation1hRequired reading: Transposition as behavior: a policy perspective on domestic actors30mRequired reading: The Commission shaping European policy45mRequired reading: The Commission as the guardian of the treaties45m

8 practice exercises

Transposition as interpretation30mTransposition as behavior30mThe Commission shaping European policy30mEnd quiz week 330mResearch assignment 3: How is the policy formulated? Residence rights dossier1h 30mResearch assignment 3: How is the policy formulated? Posting dossier1h 30mResearch assignment 3: How is the policy formulated? Air quality dossier1h 30mTest your policy knowledge: final quiz30m

Week5

Week 5

15 hours to complete

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.

15 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 126 min), 5 readings, 9 quizzes

10 videos

What can go wrong with implementation?6mTime, capacity and culture7mPolicy fit and related explanations7mBehavioral explanations: interests and veto players8mInvolvement of regional and local governments in implementation6mHow is implementation nationally organized? Residents rights and posting dossiers22mHow is implementation nationally organized? Air quality dossier14mHow is the European policy implemented? Residents rights and posting dossiers27mHow is the European policy implemented? Air quality dossier20mWalkthrough for assignment 4: Implementation (Air quality dossier)4m

5 readings

Required reading: What can go wrong with implementation?1hRequired reading: Time, capacity and culture45mRequired reading: Policy fit and related explanations45mRequired reading: Behavioral explanations: interests and veto players45mRequired reading: Involvement of regional and local governments in implementation1h

9 practice exercises

Time, capacity and culture21mPolicy fit and related explanations30mBehavioral explanations: interests and veto players30mWiki on the organization of implementation45mEnd quiz week 430mResearch Assignment 4: How is the policy implemented? Residence rights dossier2hResearch Assignment 4: How is the policy implemented? Posting dossier2hResearch Assignment 4: How is the policy implemented? Air quality dossier2hImplementation

Week6

Week 6

10 hours to complete

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.

10 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 73 min), 3 readings, 8 quizzes

7 videos

How can EU policymaking be redesigned?7mBetter regulation: Legislation that will deliver?7mConsultations, impact assessments, and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?8mExperimentation for better results7mDecentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality6mHow can we improve policy? Residence rights and Posting dossiers20mHow can we improve policy? Air quality dossier14m

3 readings

Required reading: Better regulation: legislation that will deliver?1hRequired reading: Consultations, impact assessment and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?30mRequired reading: Decentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality1h

7 practice exercises

Better regulation: legislation that will deliver?30mConsulations, impact assessments and ex-post evaluations: closing the circle?30mExperimentation for better results30mDecentralization, subsidiarity and proportionality12mEnd quiz week 530mAssignment 5: Why are there differences?1hCourse Reflection5m

Reviews

4.4

26 reviews

5 stars
62.80%
4 stars
24.39%
3 stars
6.09%
2 stars
2.43%
1 star
4.26%

TOP REVIEWS FROM EU POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION: MAKING EUROPE WORK!

by JFApr 3, 2018

Fantastic course. Thank you Mr Steunenberg, UL and Coursera for making this happen.

by CEOct 5, 2020

Exactly what I expected to learn from this course, excellent!

by ASApr 27, 2017

Great course, I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot about policymaking and policy implementation.

by DKJul 10, 2017

Great course, learned a lot about the mechanisms of policy formulation and implementation in EU and got excited about implementation in my area!

View all reviews

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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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EU policy and implementation: making Europe work!

EU policy and implementation: making Europe work!

About this Course