UCL - Economic and social integration in Europe

[EUSL2030]

[30h] 5 credits

This course is taught in the 1st semester.

Teacher(s):

Language: English

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

This course will look into the evolution of economic and social integration within the European Union and its immediate prospects.

Main themes

1. Introduction to the theories of economic integration.
2. The process of European Integration and the construction of the Single Market:
- The problem of the economic fragmentation of Europe
- The strategy of national champions in the Common Market
- The reasons behind the acceleration of European economic integration in the 80s and 90s
- The weakening of national champion strategies
- Analysis of the liberalisation-harmonization-competition integration triangle.
3. The economic integration of the Europe:
- The integration of the labour and capital markets
- The integration of goods and services
- Sector-based analysis of the integration level of the main European industries
- The impact of the creation of the Single Market on the European economies.
4. Cohesion policies:
- Introduction to the theories of economic and social integration
- The principle of subsidiarity and the objectives of social cohesion in the European Union
- The European tools to enforce cohesion policies
- The analysis of the impact of social and economic cohesion and the evolution of social and economic disparities across the European Union.
5. European social policies:
- The specificities of the European social models
- The acquis communautaire in the social field
- The adaptation of the European social models to the pressures of economic globalisation forces.

Content and teaching methods

In order to comprehend the process of European integration, this course will look into the economic and institutional integration processes (the liberalisation-harmonisation-competition triangle) at the root of the creation of the Single Market. It will outline the prospects of integration in the different fields of the European economy (analysis of the strategic industries such as energy, research, knowledge-intensive services, defence, transport and infrastructure). In this respect, this course will provide a short introduction to the tools used by the authorities to deepen the integration level in the European Union.
The course will analyze the evolution of social cohesion within the European Union, the disparities between the different member countries and the various social actors. It will examine the elements and the policies which determine the level of social cohesion within the Union (principle of subsidiarity, redistributive tools, European social policies and institutional differences between member states). It will also assess the developments generated by the need to adapt to globalisation and by the recent enlargements.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Period: 1st semester.
Periodicity: yearly.
Language: English.
Prerequisite: introduction to economics.
Evaluation: oral examination.
Supports: multimedia presentation, statistical data, selected articles.
References: to be determined by the professor in charge.