POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME IN SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN STUDIES ACADEMIC YEAR 2009-10 EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AND SOUTH-EAST EUROPE COURSE DESCRIPTION The European Union (EU) has been a major influence in post-communist Southeastern Europe (SEE) where it aims, in its own words, to become the main player. For the EU, the integration of SEE presents a major challenge, both for the deepening of integration and from the viewpoint of democratic legitimacy. Meanwhile, for the SEE states, EU membership, as a goal or a reality, has become a central focus with a deep-reaching impact on domestic institutions, politics and policies. The course sites the evolution of EU-SEE relations in the context of the broader problematic of EU Enlargement. The region currently presents a mosaic of differentiated integration, including full EU members, candidates and applicants for membership, and potential candidates \ Stabilisation and Association partners. The implications of these different relationships will be explained and their future prospects assessed. A central theme of the course concerns the role of Southeastern Europe as a laboratory for the study for Europeanisation. Particular attention will be paid to the impact of EU conditionality and to the nature of the region as a strong test of the Union s capability of living up to its image as a peace and democratization project. The course will also address the potential impact of Enlargement to Southeastern Europe on the future of European integration. COURSE OUTLINE 1. EU Enlargement and its Dilemmas: Understanding the SEE Challenge 2. Europeanisation and EU Transformative Power: The Theoretical Context 3. The Economic Motor of Integration and Implications for SEE 4. Enlargement Dynamics: Understanding the Process 5. From Outsiders to Insiders? The Place of SEE in European Integration 6. Guest lecture with Dr S A Wallden I 7. Guest lecture with Dr S A Wallden II 8. Guest lecture with Dr S A Wallden III 9. EU Enlargement Strategy and Progress Seminar 2009 10. Democracy Promotion and Conditionality in Southeastern Europe 11. Security Integration and Southeastern Europe 12. European Integration as a Peace Project: The Case of SEE 13. Enlarging to Turkey: The Ultimate Challenge? 14. EU in SEE, SEE in EU: Looking to the Future Guest Lectures In addition to the above, the course will also include two lectures by Professor P. C. Ioakeimidis on The Nature of the EU Political System and The Lisbon Treaty and After
and a lecture by Dr Jens Bastian on The Economic and Institutional Integration of the Western Balkans. Other guest lectures may also be arranged. The content of these lectures is considered part of the course material for examination purposes. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Classes: Time and Location Classes will normally be held on Wednesdays from 4.30-7.30 p.m. However, please note that the day on which class is taught may change. If necessary, additional classes may also be arranged. Please note that class attendance for students of the SEE Programme is not optional. You should be available to participate in all programme activities, which will normally take place from 4.30-7.30 p.m. on weekdays. Class Location: Aeolou building, 2 nd floor. Semester: Teaching term: 1 October 2009 to 12 January 2010 Christmas break: Wednesday 23 December 2009 to Thursday 7 January 2010 Reading Week: Wednesday 13 January-Wednesday 20 January 2010 Examination period: Thursday 21 January Friday 29 January 2010 Consultation Office hours: Thursday 12.00-14.00 Office address: 6 Themistokleous Street - Office 30, 4 th floor Office telephone: 2103688928 Mailbox: 6 Themistokleous Street Ground floor (Σουζάννα Βέρνυ) E-mail: sverney@pspa.uoa.gr ** VERY IMPORTANT: When communicating with me by e-mail, please give your message the title Postgraduate Programme to ensure I do not delete it. Student Assessment Students will be graded through a mix of examinations and class work. Class participation will also be taken into account. In accordance with the Programme Regulation, the final examination will count for 50% of students grades. This will be a two-hour written exam in which students will be required to answer questions on the material covered throughout the semester. This may include information from relevant guest lectures. SEE-EU SYLLABUS 2009-10 2
The remaining 50% of the grade will be based on the term paper, oral presentations (term paper topic, 2008 Enlargement Strategy reports), class participation and, if judged necessary, in-class tests. Students will be required to pass both the final examination and the term paper in order to pass the course. Term Paper All students are required to write a term paper of 6,000 words (not including bibliography) and to make a brief in-class presentation on the paper topic. The topic of the term paper must be agreed with the instructor. Students are required to define their term paper topic, in writing (by e-mail or in my mailbox at the university), by Friday 31 October. The paper should be word-processed, footnoted and include a complete list of references. The paper should be submitted in one hard and one electronic copy to the Secretariat of the Postgraduate Programme on or before the final submission deadline of 2 p.m. on Thursday 8 January 2009. Please note that late submission will be penalised by reduction of the grade. Term Paper Topics: Term papers should be a case study chosen from one of the five following subject areas (with indicative paper topics below): Meeting political conditionality Case study of compliance of a selected SEE state with EU political criteria (all or selected) during the accession process Security Integration and the SEE experience e.g. EU immigration and visa regimes and their impact on the SEE states The EC\EU and the wars in former Yugoslavia ESDP missions in SEE The EU as a peace project e.g. the life and death of the State Union of Serbia-Montenegro The EU and Kossovo The EU and Bosnia The nature of the Turkish challenge and the future of integration e.g. Can the EU survive the Turkish challenge? Assessment of the impact of Enlargement to Turkey on EU institutions and policies Turkish accession, EU identity and the building of a European demos Southeastern Europe and the EU: Future prospects e.g. Public opinion, Enlargement to SEE and democratic legitimacy EU promotion of regional cooperation in SEE Integrating the Western Balkans: the challenge for the EU SEE-EU SYLLABUS 2009-10 3
Sources on Southeastern Europe and European Integration 1.The Internet Given the topical nature of European integration and the fact that history is being made every week, one of the best sources of information is the Internet. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started. EU Official Website The European Union Online: information about the institutions, policies, activities: http://europa.eu/index_en.htm You can find information on all the EU Treaties, including summaries and links to the full texts on www.europa.eu.int/abc/treaties/index_en.htm The European Commission: information on the Commission s activities, its President and daily news: http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm The Council of the EU: http://consilium.europa.eu The European Parliament: http://www.europarl.europa.eu The new European Parliament internet TV channel: http://www.europarltv.europa.eu/ For a useful guide to EU speak, see http://europa.eu/abc/eurojargon For public opinion in the EU, see the regular Eurobarometer reports, http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/index_en.htm For latest developments, see the website of the current Swedish Presidency of the Council of Ministers, http://www.ue2008.fr/pfue/lang/en/accueil To keep up with what is going on in the EU: The Robert Schuman Centre produces a useful weekly summary of news from the EU, with links to the original news sources, which you can receive free of charge via e-mail: www.robert-schuman.org European Voice, weekly newspaper focusing exclusively on EU, www.europeanvoice.com The Financial Times www.ft.com/europe The Economist www.economist.com/europe Southeastern European Enlargement For latest Enlargement news, check the European Commission s dedicated site, which has regular updates with latest news: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/index_en.htm For information on all the candidate countries with links to all the official European Commission documents (including Opinions on membership applications and regular monitoring reports): http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/index_en.htm For the 2008 European Commission Enlargement Strategy and Progress Reports 2007 on the candidate and potential candidate countries in Southeastern Europe: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/press_corner/keydocuments/reports_nov_2008_en.htm NB The 2009 Reports will be published on 14 October. For all the official European Commission documents related to the accession of the 2007 EU entrants from SEE, see http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/bulgaria/key_documents_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/romania/key_documents_en.htm SEE-EU SYLLABUS 2009-10 4
Electronic Newsletters European Commission, Enlargement Newsletter (a regular source of EU Enlargement news): http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/press_corner/newsletter/index_en.htm#a1 Centre for European Policy Studies: European Neighbourhood Watch (formerly the CEPS South East Europe Monitor now has a strong focus on the European Neighbourhood Policy area, but still covers SEE as well) http://www.ceps.be/article.php?article_id=416 *You can subscribe to both these monthly newsletters, free of charge) Individual SEE States Foreign Ministries of the individual SEE states: Albania: http://www.mfa.gov.al Bosnia and Herzegovina: http://www.mfa.gov.ba/index_eng.htm Bulgaria: http://www.mfa.government.bg/ Croatia: http://www.mvpei.hr FYR of Macedonia: http://www.mfa.gov.mk/default.aspx?itemid=282 Montenegro: http://www.vlada.cg.yu/eng/mininos/ Romania: http://www.mae.ro/index.php?lang=en Serbia: http://www.mfa.gov.yu Turkey: http://www.mfa.gov.tr & Kosovo government portal: http://www.ks-gov.net/portal/eng.htm Websites of the European Commission Representations in the respective countries, e.g. Bulgaria http://www.evropa.bg/en/del/eu-and-bulgaria/documents.html European Commission Delegation to Serbia: http://www.delscg.ec.europa.eu/code/navigate.php?id=1 European Commission Liaison Office to Kosovo: http://www.delprn.ec.europa.eu/ EULEX mission in Kosovo: http://www.eulex-kosovo.eu Examples of Think Tanks with reports on SEE Centre for European Policy Studies http://www.ceps.be European Stability Initiative http://www.esiweb.org International Crisis Group http://www.crisisgroup.org 2. Prescribed Reading Reminder: Before the start of the Programme, all students were required to read one or more standard textbooks on European integration, covering the following subjects: historical evolution of the European integration process from foundation of European Coal and Steel Community to the present, single market, main EU institutions, introduction to theories of European integration. It is essential that you do this, as this course will not be covering all the basics of European integration. NB It is important that you read a textbook in English in order to familiarise yourself with the terminology. A list of prescribed reading by class topic will be provided. It is important for students to keep up with the reading over the course of the semester, in order to be able to participate in class discussions. SEE-EU SYLLABUS 2009-10 5