EUROPEAN PUBLIC POLICY
ASSIGNMENTS
The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Name – Student number
European Public Policy – Teacher
,Table of Contents
Week 1 Europe’s Ideas, Ideals and Identities.........................................................................................2
Week 2 But how? Tools for understanding European integration.........................................................3
Week 3 From Coal and Steel to the Community (History of the EU part I)............................................4
Week 4 From Integration to Disintegration (History of the EU part II)..................................................6
Week 5 Events and rules, politics and policies.......................................................................................7
Week 6 It’s the economy, stupid! The EU and the internal market.......................................................8
Week 7 THE EURO – A great success or a bitter failure?......................................................................10
Week 8 Social Justice and Equality......................................................................................................11
Week 9 The Green Deal, Agriculture and Global Climate Change........................................................12
Week 10 The migrant crisis as a European crisis (Justice and Home Affairs).......................................13
Week 11 The EU between China, Russia and the US...........................................................................14
Bibliography.........................................................................................................................................16
1
, Week 1 Europe’s Ideas, Ideals and Identities
REFRESH AND REFLECT:
1. Explain - in short - the political role and function of the
a) European Commission (EC): The European Commission is the executive body of the European
Union (EU) Institutional triangle. It has the power to propose new laws and policies, and the power
to oversee law implementation through member states.
b) The European Parliament (EP): The European Parliament is one of the legislative bodies of the EU.
It shares power with the Council of Ministers in the approval of new legislative proposals and EU
budget set by the EC. The EP has the power to pressure the EC to develop new proposals, and EC and
Council of Ministers must regularly report to the EP on their activities
c) The Council of the European Union: The Council of the Ministers is the other legislative body of
the EU. It shares responsibility with the EP for approval of new EU laws and approval of the EU
budget. It coordinates the economic policies of the member states. Furthermore, it defines and
implement the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and it concludes international agreements on
behalf of the EU.
2. BOOK QUESTION: Name four ‘symbols’ of the EU.
The flag, the anthem, the motto (United in Diversity), and the annual Day of Europe (9 May).
(Also further claims of the EU symbols are the euro and the burgundy passport)
3. DISCUSSION QUESTION (250 words): Why is it relevant to study public policy making of the EU?
(Argumentation question; give at least three arguments why it is relevant).
As it is stated in the “European Union Politics” book, “Public policy can be defined as whatever
governments do (or deliberately avoid doing) to address the needs and problems of society”
(McCormick, 2020, p. 314).
Furthermore, “Policies are generated at every level of government, from the local to the national,
and are shaped by a combination of existing law, constitutional powers, the ideology of governments
and political leaders, the demands of citizens, the influence of interest groups, and by the desire of
governments and political parties to make themselves distinctive from their opponents”
(McCormick, 2020, p. 315).
With this being said, it is important to understand what public policy is and how these policies are
implemented for several reasons. Firstly, it is necessary to understand what the government is doing
for its citizens and how the problems and/or issues that are present are solved. Secondly, it is
relevant to study public policy because it strengthens the democracy. Citizens can influence public
policy by voting for political parties or candidates with similar ideals and values as their own. Thirdly,
citizens can influence public policy by influencing public opinions, this can be done by voicing
concerns, through advocacy or through protests. When citizens exercise their democratic rights, they
influence public policy. Lastly, Public Policy in the European Union is very relevant since it has an
effect on various aspects on the lives of all citizens in the EU. Think about education, health care,
environmental, and security policies, all of these policies influence in one way or another, the lives of
the EU citizens.
2
ASSIGNMENTS
The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Name – Student number
European Public Policy – Teacher
,Table of Contents
Week 1 Europe’s Ideas, Ideals and Identities.........................................................................................2
Week 2 But how? Tools for understanding European integration.........................................................3
Week 3 From Coal and Steel to the Community (History of the EU part I)............................................4
Week 4 From Integration to Disintegration (History of the EU part II)..................................................6
Week 5 Events and rules, politics and policies.......................................................................................7
Week 6 It’s the economy, stupid! The EU and the internal market.......................................................8
Week 7 THE EURO – A great success or a bitter failure?......................................................................10
Week 8 Social Justice and Equality......................................................................................................11
Week 9 The Green Deal, Agriculture and Global Climate Change........................................................12
Week 10 The migrant crisis as a European crisis (Justice and Home Affairs).......................................13
Week 11 The EU between China, Russia and the US...........................................................................14
Bibliography.........................................................................................................................................16
1
, Week 1 Europe’s Ideas, Ideals and Identities
REFRESH AND REFLECT:
1. Explain - in short - the political role and function of the
a) European Commission (EC): The European Commission is the executive body of the European
Union (EU) Institutional triangle. It has the power to propose new laws and policies, and the power
to oversee law implementation through member states.
b) The European Parliament (EP): The European Parliament is one of the legislative bodies of the EU.
It shares power with the Council of Ministers in the approval of new legislative proposals and EU
budget set by the EC. The EP has the power to pressure the EC to develop new proposals, and EC and
Council of Ministers must regularly report to the EP on their activities
c) The Council of the European Union: The Council of the Ministers is the other legislative body of
the EU. It shares responsibility with the EP for approval of new EU laws and approval of the EU
budget. It coordinates the economic policies of the member states. Furthermore, it defines and
implement the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and it concludes international agreements on
behalf of the EU.
2. BOOK QUESTION: Name four ‘symbols’ of the EU.
The flag, the anthem, the motto (United in Diversity), and the annual Day of Europe (9 May).
(Also further claims of the EU symbols are the euro and the burgundy passport)
3. DISCUSSION QUESTION (250 words): Why is it relevant to study public policy making of the EU?
(Argumentation question; give at least three arguments why it is relevant).
As it is stated in the “European Union Politics” book, “Public policy can be defined as whatever
governments do (or deliberately avoid doing) to address the needs and problems of society”
(McCormick, 2020, p. 314).
Furthermore, “Policies are generated at every level of government, from the local to the national,
and are shaped by a combination of existing law, constitutional powers, the ideology of governments
and political leaders, the demands of citizens, the influence of interest groups, and by the desire of
governments and political parties to make themselves distinctive from their opponents”
(McCormick, 2020, p. 315).
With this being said, it is important to understand what public policy is and how these policies are
implemented for several reasons. Firstly, it is necessary to understand what the government is doing
for its citizens and how the problems and/or issues that are present are solved. Secondly, it is
relevant to study public policy because it strengthens the democracy. Citizens can influence public
policy by voting for political parties or candidates with similar ideals and values as their own. Thirdly,
citizens can influence public policy by influencing public opinions, this can be done by voicing
concerns, through advocacy or through protests. When citizens exercise their democratic rights, they
influence public policy. Lastly, Public Policy in the European Union is very relevant since it has an
effect on various aspects on the lives of all citizens in the EU. Think about education, health care,
environmental, and security policies, all of these policies influence in one way or another, the lives of
the EU citizens.
2
