Structure & topics

The first week in BRUSSELS emphasises the various decision-making actors and also looks at the implementation process at national level. Study visits are complemented by lectures from senior academics and by high-level officials from the Brussels based European institutions. The lectures include the following topics:

• The EU treaties and their evolution
• The functioning of the European institutions including the European Parliament, the   Commission, the Council and the European Court of Justice
• The European decision-making process
• Structural diplomacy
• Governance mechanisms and soft instruments of policy making
• The EU and its lobby groups

The second week takes place in VIENNA, where a team of experts offer in-depth knowledge of European policy-making in various fields such as:

• Constitutional and legal issues
• European Foreign and Security Policy
• Monetary Policy

The Summer School concludes with two simulation games. Typically, we conduct one in the field of health and safety policy and one in the field of foreign and security policy. Throughout the programme, students do preparatory exercises and are coached and guided towards effectively “playing” these simulation games.