European Public Policy – Portfolio
Seminar 1
Refresh and Reflect
The European Commission
The Benelux governments were concerned that West Germany and France would
overpower the other countries in the ECSC to a Special Council of Ministers was appointed.
In 1967 the European Commission was formed from the three different commissions of the
first three treaties. Each member state was given one commissioner. The European
Commission is part of the European institutional triangle. The other two points are the
Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. The European Commission is the
executive of the EU. It has five main components and is headquartered in Brussels.
The European Parliament
The treaties of Rome created a 142-member European Parliamentary assembly. The
European Parliament is the only directly elected transnational legislature in the world and
the only directly elected EU institution. It is managed by three different committees:
conference of presidents, the bureau and conference of committee chairs (CCC). The EP
shares powers with the Council of Ministers over discussion and approval of new legislative
proposals and of the EU budget
The Council of European Union
Legislative – shares power with EP for discussing and passing laws. Budgetary – shares
power with Parliament for approving and adopting EU budget. Coordinates economic
policies of member states. Coordinates justice and home affairs of member states. Defines
and implements the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Concludes international
agreements.
Book
The European anthem, the motto of the European Union ‘united in diversity’, Brussels as the
capital of the European Union and Europe Day.
Discussion question
“Policy might take the form of law, or regulation, or the set of all the laws and regulations
that govern a particular issue or problem.” (Martinez, n.d.). As citizens of the European
Union, we need to know the analytical, ethical, and practical skills necessary to successfully
engage in public affairs. Our daily lives are affected by the policies set by the European
Union; thus, I believe it is important to know as an individual what policies are, their
purpose and the outcome. Any individual should know what the law is and what their rights
are and what these mean to them. I also believe it is highly important for individuals to have
certain knowledge of public affairs, as the new generation is the future, as they will be the
ones who will be making important decisions for the European Union at some point.
Another aspect why it is important to study public affairs is to keep democracy vibrant and
improve them to adopt with what the future enfolds. For a citizen of the European Union or
any citizen in general, public services are highly important and used almost every day, for
instance, it is important to know where our tax payments are invested into. By
, understanding public policy, we can deal better with public issues, even if it is just in your
own neighborhood or community or at work.
Seminar 2
Refresh and Reflect
The European Identity
Personally, I believe European identity is perceived in a different way by every individual.
However, the concept of national identity is more feasible than the concept of ‘European
identity’. This will be argued by looking into Europe’s cultural entity and the polity. Within
Europe the cultural differences per nation inhibit European identity. The nations within
Europe mostly differ in culture, language, symbols and history. I believe this is the main
reason why the national identity overshadows the European identity. Another important
element when analyzing identities is that within most states the citizens have a strong sense
of citizenship. National citizenship dominates the European citizenship, thus the European
identity.
Book
The spillover effect refers to the events in one nation-state impacting other states
economically. An event counts as a spillover effect when the event in one country has an
impact on another country economically. A spillover effect can both be positive or negative,
however it is mainly associated with negative impacts.
Discussion question
The political groups within the European Parliament are structured by political affiliation.
There are currently seven political groups within the European Parliament.
The European United Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) is an example of a leftist political
group within the European Parliament. This group promotes the idea of better jobs and
improved educational opportunities. Additionally, the group endorses social security and
social solidarity. The group also stands for more respectfully usage of national resources,
sustainable economic development and, lastly, for peace policy. The political group works
hard to achieve their own ultimate goals for European Integration. This group is highly in
favor of further European Integration.
The Identity and Democracy party is an example of a right political group within the
European Parliament. This political group is known to be a rightist populist and strictly
Eurosceptic. In 2019 the Identity and Democracy party was established as a successor to the
Europe of Nations and Freedom Group. The political group mainly aims for creating jobs and
growth, more security and stopping illegal immigration, and lastly, fighting EU bureaucracy.
The group is mostly associated as sovereigntist, however political commentators associate
them as nationalist, right-wing and Eurosceptic. This group is highly not in favor of further
European Integration
The Renew Europe Group is an example of a centrist political group within the European
Parliament. The Renew Europe Group aims for a more prosperous Europe, that benefits all
European citizens. The political group’s main goal is to achieve a renewed Europe, they
strongly believe that economic growth, fair competition, environmental sustainability and
responsibility work together. I believe this political group is highly in favor of further
European Integration.
Seminar 1
Refresh and Reflect
The European Commission
The Benelux governments were concerned that West Germany and France would
overpower the other countries in the ECSC to a Special Council of Ministers was appointed.
In 1967 the European Commission was formed from the three different commissions of the
first three treaties. Each member state was given one commissioner. The European
Commission is part of the European institutional triangle. The other two points are the
Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. The European Commission is the
executive of the EU. It has five main components and is headquartered in Brussels.
The European Parliament
The treaties of Rome created a 142-member European Parliamentary assembly. The
European Parliament is the only directly elected transnational legislature in the world and
the only directly elected EU institution. It is managed by three different committees:
conference of presidents, the bureau and conference of committee chairs (CCC). The EP
shares powers with the Council of Ministers over discussion and approval of new legislative
proposals and of the EU budget
The Council of European Union
Legislative – shares power with EP for discussing and passing laws. Budgetary – shares
power with Parliament for approving and adopting EU budget. Coordinates economic
policies of member states. Coordinates justice and home affairs of member states. Defines
and implements the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Concludes international
agreements.
Book
The European anthem, the motto of the European Union ‘united in diversity’, Brussels as the
capital of the European Union and Europe Day.
Discussion question
“Policy might take the form of law, or regulation, or the set of all the laws and regulations
that govern a particular issue or problem.” (Martinez, n.d.). As citizens of the European
Union, we need to know the analytical, ethical, and practical skills necessary to successfully
engage in public affairs. Our daily lives are affected by the policies set by the European
Union; thus, I believe it is important to know as an individual what policies are, their
purpose and the outcome. Any individual should know what the law is and what their rights
are and what these mean to them. I also believe it is highly important for individuals to have
certain knowledge of public affairs, as the new generation is the future, as they will be the
ones who will be making important decisions for the European Union at some point.
Another aspect why it is important to study public affairs is to keep democracy vibrant and
improve them to adopt with what the future enfolds. For a citizen of the European Union or
any citizen in general, public services are highly important and used almost every day, for
instance, it is important to know where our tax payments are invested into. By
, understanding public policy, we can deal better with public issues, even if it is just in your
own neighborhood or community or at work.
Seminar 2
Refresh and Reflect
The European Identity
Personally, I believe European identity is perceived in a different way by every individual.
However, the concept of national identity is more feasible than the concept of ‘European
identity’. This will be argued by looking into Europe’s cultural entity and the polity. Within
Europe the cultural differences per nation inhibit European identity. The nations within
Europe mostly differ in culture, language, symbols and history. I believe this is the main
reason why the national identity overshadows the European identity. Another important
element when analyzing identities is that within most states the citizens have a strong sense
of citizenship. National citizenship dominates the European citizenship, thus the European
identity.
Book
The spillover effect refers to the events in one nation-state impacting other states
economically. An event counts as a spillover effect when the event in one country has an
impact on another country economically. A spillover effect can both be positive or negative,
however it is mainly associated with negative impacts.
Discussion question
The political groups within the European Parliament are structured by political affiliation.
There are currently seven political groups within the European Parliament.
The European United Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) is an example of a leftist political
group within the European Parliament. This group promotes the idea of better jobs and
improved educational opportunities. Additionally, the group endorses social security and
social solidarity. The group also stands for more respectfully usage of national resources,
sustainable economic development and, lastly, for peace policy. The political group works
hard to achieve their own ultimate goals for European Integration. This group is highly in
favor of further European Integration.
The Identity and Democracy party is an example of a right political group within the
European Parliament. This political group is known to be a rightist populist and strictly
Eurosceptic. In 2019 the Identity and Democracy party was established as a successor to the
Europe of Nations and Freedom Group. The political group mainly aims for creating jobs and
growth, more security and stopping illegal immigration, and lastly, fighting EU bureaucracy.
The group is mostly associated as sovereigntist, however political commentators associate
them as nationalist, right-wing and Eurosceptic. This group is highly not in favor of further
European Integration
The Renew Europe Group is an example of a centrist political group within the European
Parliament. The Renew Europe Group aims for a more prosperous Europe, that benefits all
European citizens. The political group’s main goal is to achieve a renewed Europe, they
strongly believe that economic growth, fair competition, environmental sustainability and
responsibility work together. I believe this political group is highly in favor of further
European Integration.
