European policies – international relations

The course is offered in Greek to students attending the MA Programme on Governance and Regional Administration, offered jointly by the Departments of Political Sciences and of Economics.  It started being offered for the winter semester of the academic year 2019-20 and consists of 13 3-hour lectures (total 39 hours).

The aim of the course is to analyze how EU policies intervene on and affect domestic policies and structures, taking into account the development of the concept of multi-level governance in modern world. In particular, the course examines how globalization and the increasing interdependence between states, economies, other international actors and citizens affect national and supranational decision-making and require changes in the way in which national power is exercised.

The course is addressed to Greek students, in particular persons involved directly or indirectly in the Greek administration (mostly local and regional). For this reason, it focuses on practical aspects of EU policies and their impact on domestic decisions. It looks into how European policies require institutional, besides legislative, approximation in the structures and modus operandi of Member States. In particular as far as Greece is concerned, the course analyzes the gradual “Europeanisation” of institutions, structures and policies in the context of this interdependence, following Greece’s accession to the EU, with an emphasis on the speeding up of such Europeanisation during the most recent period. At the same time, it examines the relations between the various levels of government and the changes in responsibilities among different organs and institutions in the Greek system of governance as a result of European policies and directions. Lastly, it looks into the impact of EU on international relations – in particular as a global actor on issues such as trade, climate and migration policies.

  • The lectures are structured as follows:
    • Regional integration as a factor influencing domestic policies
    • Actors involved in the formation of national policies (interest groups, political parties, economic actors)
    • Institutional framework and policy formulation in the EU
    • The administrative structure of the Greek state (central and regional administration, the role of the public administration)
    • The process of “Europeanisation” of national policies – the intrusion of European priorities into the Greek system of governance
    • Multi-level governance: a new political and institutional policy framework at domestic level
    • Multi-level governance: the impact on international relations.

The course will allow students to acquire a full knowledge of the process of multi-level governance in the EU and the impact of decisions at EU level on domestic decision-making and on the application of national policies. Students – many of whom are involved with the various levels of national administration – shall be able to grasp how such gradual “Europeanisation” of institutions, structures and policies came about in the context of the interdependence between the national and European levels. They will also be able to perform better in their respective fields of work and react in a timelier manner to the administrative requirements.