98863 - EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Learning outcomes

This course provides a multidisciplinary introduction to the institutional dynamics, the practices, processes and policies of European integration from the Second World War onwards. The course brings together disciplinary insights from History, Philosophy, Law, Economics and Social Sciences, proving a deep understanding of the historical processes, political-philosophical ideas and preferences, economic interests and legal foundations leading up and shaping European integration until today. Furthermore, the course explains, against the background of theories and concepts of European integration, the European Union as a multi-level system of policy-making beyond national boundaries and in the context of globalization. By the end of the course students will know about: the historical conditions and context of European integration in the aftermath of the Second World War. The historical process of European integration since the late 1940s, with particular emphasis on the key critical junctures that have determined the way the European project has evolved ever after; the legal-political foundations of European Integration by considering the Treaties that have paved the way for the emerging European Union; key concepts and theories of European integration; key features of the internal market, as well as the role of ì EU as a global actor.

Course contents

European Integration is developed in a form of block teaching and includes several thematic blocks dedicated to a specific theme of European integration. Within the semester, the following themes are being discussed:

• European integration in a long-term historical-philosophical perspective
• European integration in the aftermath of the Second World War
• Legal-political foundations of European Integration
• Key concepts and theories of European integration
• Dynamics of European integration – institutions and organizations

Readings/Bibliography

The syllabus of the course European Integration will further specify primary and secondary reading materials, including textbooks and open source materials. Materials will be made available on Toledo.

Teaching methods

Blended learning - Practical lecture - Traditional lecture

Hybrid multicampus education.

This course consists of:

• Lectures taught in a blended mode
• On-campus seminars, in which students practically engage with the teaching materials from the lectures.

Assessment methods

Evaluation characteristics

This course includes the following evaluation:

1. Individual or group project (30% of the total score).

Throughout the semester, students must submit an assignment that counts as 30% of the final grade. The submission period and deadline as well as detailed instructions are defined by the lecturer(s) and communicated through Toledo.

2. Final written exam during the examination period consisting of multiple choice and open questions (70% of the total score).

The final exam is organized as a digital (bring-your-own-device or in a PC classroom) exam via the Ans examination platform. Students must be present on campus to take the exam. The duration of the exam is 180 minutes.

Students are highly advised to participate in all seminars in order to prepare for the final exam.

Determination of the final result

The evaluation is graded by the lecturer(s), as communicated via Toledo and the exam schedule. The result is calculated and expressed with a whole number to 20. Students have to pass BOTH the final exam during the examination period AND the individual/group project in order to pass the course. If students fail one evaluation activity, their final result cannot be higher than 9/20, regardless of the individual results for each activity. Students pass the course if their overall final mark is 10/20, or higher. If students do not participate in one of the two evaluation activities, they receive an NA for the course.

In the final exam that uses multiple choice exams, correction for guessing is not applied. This means that negative points are not deducted for incorrect answers.

When submitting assignments, the agreed deadline is respected. Possible deviations are not negotiable. If special individual circumstances have arisen, one should contact the ombuds service before the deadline. If the deadline is not respected, the assessment of the component in question will be counted as a 0-score within the weighted final result, unless for a valid reason a new submission date is determined after the application.

Students are responsible for submitting work that is free of fraud. Irregularities, in particular with regard to authorship (e.g. plagiarism and the improper use of genAI), will be punished with the sanctions provided for in the BAES exam regulations [https://ghum.kuleuven.be/EN/baes/students/regulations] .

Teaching tools

Toledo platform.

Office hours

See the website of Giulia Parenti

See the website of Kolja Raube

See the website of