Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Introduction to European Integration
Course Code
SZF_010
Branch of Science
International Politics; Political science
ECTS
4.00
Target Audience
Political Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Vineta Kleinberga
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
The objective of the course is to provide an overview of European integration – its historical development, institutional structure, policies, decision-making and the interaction between different actors (including institutions, nation-states, civil society, population, etc.).
Preliminary Knowledge
For successful completion of the study course, students must have prior knowledge of the development of the international system, the basic concepts of international relations and the structure and policies of the European Union.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Students have good knowledge of the history and causes of the development of the European Union (EU). They understand the different approaches to theorising European integration and the role of states, non-state actors and international institutions and structures in integration processes. Students have good knowledge of current EU developments and potential future development of the organisation. They understand EU policy-making and decision-making processes, and the role of EU institutions and Member States in organising external and internal affairs.
Skills
1.Students are able to identify the basic principles of operation of the EU and the key documents characterising its development, distinguish and describe EU policies, identify the division of competences between the EU and national levels, and analyse the opportunities and constraints of EU institutions and Member States in decision-making.
Competences
1.Students have the competence to analyse, write about and discuss the future development of the EU, policies, EU institutions, their role and importance in EU decision-making.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
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As part of the study course, students will be required to study the required readings, write two essays and pass two tests on the specified topics, write and present a final course report, successfully pass seminars and a final course examination.
To assess the overall quality of the study course, the student must complete the course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Examination |
-
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-
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1. participation in lectures and seminars – 25% (assessment criteria: activity and quality of answers);
2. essays and tests – 25% (assessment criteria: essays – structure (introduction, body, conclusions), quality of argumentation, compliance of the text with Latvian grammar requirements; in tests – number of correct answers);
3. report – 25% (assessment criteria: structure (introduction, body, conclusions), quality of argumentation, compliance of the text with Latvian grammar requirements);
4. exam – 25% (assessment criteria: understanding of basic concepts, description of the development process, identification of problematic issues).
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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The Phenomenon of European Integration. Historical Development of European Integration.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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‘Supranational’ Institutions of the EU (European Commission, European Parliament, EU Courts, etc.)
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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E-Studies platform
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2
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Topics
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Tutorials/Discussions (On Request)
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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EU Intergovernmental Institutions – European Council and Council of the European Union
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Presidency of the Council of the EU, Its Role and Challenges
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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E-Studies platform
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2
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Topics
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Tutorials/Discussions (On Request)
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Policymaking in the European Union – Setting the Agenda, Taking Decisions, Implementing Decisions
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Enlargement of the European Union: Conditions and Challenges. EU Eastern Partnership.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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E-Studies platform
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2
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Topics
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Tutorials/Discussions (On Request)
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Decision-Making. Legislation and Other Documents of the EU Institutions. Case Studies From Latvia. Lobbying and NGOs.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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EU Policies II – Foreign and Security Policy
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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Off site
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E-Studies platform
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2
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Topics
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Tutorials/Discussions (On Request)
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Monetary Policy of the European Union, Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Eurozone, Trade, Economy.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Latvia and the EU: History, Integration, Opportunities and Challenges.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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EU Policies: Student Presentations
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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EU Policies: Student Presentations
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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EU Policies: Student Presentations
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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EU Policies: Student Presentations
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Exam
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Exam
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
4.00
Contact hours:
40 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Oral)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Bukovskis, Kārlis and Justīne Elferte. "Latvia’s Path to the European Union: In-between the Backstage and the Spotlight". In: Sprūds, Andris, Diāna Potjomkina, and Valters Ščerbinskis, eds. The Centenary of Latvia’s Foreign Affairs: Tasks and Personalities, Riga: Latvian Institute of International Affairs, 2017. 191-211.
2.
Cini, Michelle, and Nieves Pérez-Solórzano Borragán. European Union Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019.
3.
Dinan, Desmond, ed. Origins and Evolution of the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.
4.
European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication, Borchardt, K., The ABC of EU law. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
5.
European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication, EU & me. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
6.
Ladrech, Robert. Europeanization and National Politics. Red Globe Press: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017.
7.
Leuffen, Dirk, Berthold Rittberger and Frank Schimmelfennig. Differentiated Integration: Explaining Variation in the European Union. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
8.
Ozoliņa, Žaneta un Inna Šteinbuka, zin. red.. Latvijas Eiropas ceļš: 15 < 30 < 100 = Latvia’s European Way: 15 < 30 < 100. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2019. (latviešu plūsmai)
9.
Wallace, Helen, Mark A. Pollack, Christilla Roederer-Rynninga and Alasdair R. Young, eds. Policy-Making in the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.
10.
Wiener, Antje, Tanja A. Börzel, and Thomas Risse. European Integration Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018.
Additional Reading
1.
Ārlietu ministrija, Latvijas prezidentūras Eiropas Savienības Padomē darba programma, 2015. (latviešu plūsmai)
2.
Ārlietu ministrija, Latvijas prezidentūras Eiropas Savienības Padomē rezultāti, 2015. (latviešu plūsmai)
3.
European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication, The European Green Deal – Delivering the EU’s 2030 climate targets, Luksembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
4.
European Union Institute for Security Studies, Andersson, Jan J. Building weapons together (or not): How to strengthen the European defence industry. Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.
5.
Hix, Simon and Follesdal, Andreas. "Why is There a Democratic Deficit in the EU? A Response to Majone and Moravcsik". Journal of Common Market Studies 44, No. 3, 2006. 533-562.
6.
JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies
7.
Journal "European Union Politics"
8.
Manners, Ian. "Normative Power Europe: A Contradiction in Terms?" Journal of Common Market Studies 40, No 2, 2002. 235-258.
9.
Moravcsik, Andrew. "The myth of Europe's 'democratic deficit'". Intereconomics 43, No 6, 2008. 331-340,
10.
Žurnāls "Latvijas intereses Eiropas Savienībā" (latviešu plūsmai)
Other Information Sources
1.
Akadēmiskā terminu datubāze/Academic term database AkadTerm
2.
Eiropas Kustība Latvijā (latviešu plūsmai)
3.
EPIN – European Policy Institutes Network
4.
EU Observer
5.
EurActiv
6.
EURLEX
7.
Europa Portal
8.
Eurobarometer
9.
European Council of Foreign Relations
10.
European Integration Research Papers Archive
11.
European Parliament / Register of Documents / Studies
12.
European Policy Centre
13.
European Union Institute for Security Studies
14.
Fondation Robert Schuman
15.
International Relations and Security Network
16.
Latvijas Ārpolitikas institūts/Institute of Foreign Policy of Latvia
17.
Trans-European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA)
18.
The Centre for European Policy Studies