Target Group
Public officials preparing to assume EU responsibilities, EU affairs professionals, people needing to quickly acquire a comprehensive familiarity with how EU decisions are taken.

Description
This is a self-standing ‘immersion’ course. It is also a suitable basis for participation in the specialised courses offered by EIPA on particular aspects of EU decision-making. The course first provides a framework for understanding EU decision-making. It briefly explains the treaty structure and the different kinds of competences which have been given to the EU. The different phases in the policy cycle are then addressed in detail, highlighting the changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty.

Learning Methodology
The elaboration of a Commission proposal is presented, with emphasis on public consultation and impact assessment. To understand legislative decision-making, participants simulate a Council Working Party, and discuss cases of interaction between the Parliament and Council. Finally, the implementation phase is presented, with a review of the new system of ‘delegated acts’ and ‘implementing acts’.

Objectives
Participants will understand the principles and structures of the EU system and the basic competences and functioning of the EU institutions; they will be familiar with the different stages in the legislative cycle; and they will have an insight into how decisions are reached in practice.