The students acquire the knowledge of decision-making process at the European level, especially in the field of EU regional development policy. In addition to that, the students become familiar with the fundamental international documents on regional self-government and regional development. Students acquire the knowledge of the functioning of the European structural funds, as well as of the implications of the EU cohesion policy on the regional level of governance in the member states.
The students acquire the knowledge of decision-making process at the European level, especially in the field of EU regional development policy. In addition to that, the students become familiar with the fundamental international documents on regional self-government and regional development. Students acquire the knowledge of the functioning of the European structural funds, as well as of the implications of the EU cohesion policy on the regional level of governance in the member states.
In practical terms, students gain competences for active monitoring and evaluation of the problem in the process of the public administration reform, especially with regard to the processes of Europeanization and integration. This way, the students become qualified to work in positions which are a part of the EU negotiation and accession process and those related to the using of the EU funds or local government reform. They gain the skills required to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions of the multi-level governance to the public in general and to professional audience as well.
With regard to research skills, the students get introduced to the basic tools for browsing the EU legislation and documentation databases.
The successful passing of the exam should confirm students’ competences
- To define and to describe the concept of multi-level governance and its implications onto the role of the regions in general and in decision-making process at the European level.
- To define and to describe the EU regional policy and to identify the phases of its development, as well as its basic objectives
- To define and to reason the principles of the EU regional policy (structural funds): concentration, programming, partnership, and efficiency
- To differentiate and to compare regional level of governance across political systems
- To describe the role, types and the way of functioning of the EU structural funds
- To describe the legal and institutional framework of the regional development management in Croatia and to identify and reason the difference between the old and the new model.
Knowledge and understanding
After finishing the class student will be able to:
- Understand the concept of multi-level governance and changes it produces in some aspects of public policy, especially cohesion policy of the EU.
- Define and describe cohesion policy of the EU and indentify and elaborate main phases of its development, main instruments of cohesion policy and basic characteristics of certain programming periods.
- Name and explain principles of the EU cohesion policy such as concentration, programming, partnership, additionality, efficiency and specific principles for programming periods
- Sum up characteristic and phases of regional policy management in transition countries of the Central and Easter Europe
- Identify main strategic and legal acts as well as actors of cohesion policy cycle
Application
After finishing the class student will be able to:
- Interpret the concept of multi-level governance and sketch changes in administrative systems caused by that concept.
- Apply principles of the EU cohesion policy on management of less developed areas.
- Choose ESI funds and other instruments of EU cohesion policy which are suitable for financing various development activities
- Present the level of socio-economic development of various EU regions
Analysis
After finishing the class student will be able to:
- Distinguish and compare the role of regional tier of government in comparative administrative systems in cohesion policy management
- Connect system of development policy of a member state with instruments of the EU cohesion policy
- Compare legal and institutional framework for cohesion policy management in various EU member states
- Analyse the level of harmonisation of a member state development policy with the EU cohesion policy requirements
Synthesis
After finishing the class student will be able to:
- Analyse development and the main phases of EU cohesion policy.
- Assess the impact of the EU cohesion policy and accession to the EU on national administrative system.
- Compare different approaches to cohesion policy management in various EU member state of Central and Eastern Europe.
- Suggest necessary improvements of legal and institutional framework of development policy in particular country
Evaluation
After finishing the class student will be able to:
- Assess and conclude in direction and hoe the multi-level governance is changing administrative systems of the EU member states, especially the parts which have been dealing with the EU cohesion policy.
- Assess legal and institutional framework for regional policy in a member state in comparison with the requirements of the EU cohesion policy.
- Conclude how Eu cohesion policy requirements influence system of horizontal and vertical coordination in a member state/s.
- Assess and evaluate efficiency of the existing regional policy measures in a member state having in mind realisation of main goals of the EU cohesion policy.
In practical terms, students gain competences for active monitoring and evaluation of the problem in the process of the public administration reform, especially with regard to the processes of Europeanization and integration. This way, the students become qualified to work in positions which are a part of the EU negotiation and accession process and those related to the using of the EU funds or local government reform. They gain the skills required to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions of the multi-level governance to the public in general and to professional audience as well.
Lectures and independent assignments. Students may be assigned with the individual tasks ie. writing a paper under the supervision of mentor.
Final exam is oral. Students' activities in class discussions or presentations will be given special weight by determining final mark. There is possibility to pass the exam on the basis of two written tests during period of lectures.
