This teaching guide includes general information about the subject “Budget and Governance in the European Union”. However, it is mandatory to follow the course through the virtual platform, for further details on this subject and process of monitoring.

The European Union is a key actor in shaping the international political economy and the relations between states and markets. It is therefore central to comprehend the interactions between economics and politics. For this reason, within a Master in European Union, it is necessary to  acknowledge the financial expenses and financial resources in the EU public finance as a promoter element of economic activity and integration, since the EU budget is essential in the process of European integration.

Mere knowledge of the content of EU policies does not suffice to capture the dynamics of the EU system. Familiarity with its issues is necessary in order to grasp the dynamics of policy-making and to predict the outcome of any given project. In this course the attention is paid not only to the financial stability in the European Union and the EU budget, but also the analysis of EU funding of adaptation is a part of this matter.

It is assumed that the natural background of the students will be an Economic Degree, Law Degree, a Political Science Degree or, more generally, a Degree in a Social Science-related area. Other graduates are by no means excluded.

Any graduate truly interested in European Union issues will fit into the course. Previous familiarity with EU affairs is an excellent starting point for the student to make the most of this course.

Also, to use the distance learning methodology of the UNED, it is necessary that the student has basic computer knowledge.

COLABORADORES DOCENTES EXTERNOS

Although communication between students and the teaching staff will take place preferably on-line, an extra resource for tutorials and guidance will be provided by the traditional system of academic service practiced by UNED. In this regard, Dr. Marcin Roman Czubala will be on duty on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 14 p.m. (Telephone: +34 91 398 93 42). Students can also send their e-mails to mczubala@cee.uned.es at any time.

COMPETENCIAS BÁSICAS Y GENERALES:

CG01 - Saber resolver problemas en entornos multidisciplinares relativos a la Unión Europea.

CG02 - Saber comunicar ideas y opiniones basadas en conocimientos específicos y avanzados sobre Unión Europea y emitir juicios razonados sobre las mismas.

CG03 - Interpretar el contenido de los textos y documentos de la Unión Europea de forma que el alumno sea capaz de adoptar decisiones y formular opciones sobre ellos en el entorno complejo de la estructura y ordenamiento de la Unión Europea.

CB6 - Poseer y comprender conocimientos que aporten una base u oportunidad de ser originales en el desarrollo y/o aplicación de ideas, a menudo en un contexto de investigación

CB7 - Que los estudiantes sepan aplicar los conocimientos adquiridos y su capacidad de resolución de problemas en entornos nuevos o poco conocidos dentro de contextos más amplios (o multidisciplinares) relacionados con su área de estudio

CB8 - Que los estudiantes sean capaces de integrar conocimientos y enfrentarse a la complejidad de formular juicios a partir de una información que, siendo incompleta o limitada, incluya reflexiones sobre las responsabilidades sociales y éticas vinculadas a la aplicación de sus conocimientos y juicios

CB9 - Que los estudiantes sepan comunicar sus conclusiones y los conocimientos y razones últimas que las sustentan a públicos especializados y no especializados de un modo claro y sin ambigüedades

CB10 - Que los estudiantes posean las habilidades de aprendizaje que les permitan continuar estudiando de un modo que habrá de ser en gran medida autodirigido o autónomo.

COMPETENCIAS  ESPECÍFICAS:

CE04 - Encontrar, analizar y aplicar la legislación emanada de las diferentes instituciones y órganos de la Unión Europea, así como la de los Estados Miembros que se refiera o esté implicada en el sistema europeo.

CE05 - Encontrar, analizar y aplicar la jurisprudencia de los Tribunales que componen la jurisdicción de la Unión Europea así como la jurisprudencia de cualquier orden y nivel de los estados miembros que se refiera o que estén implicadas con el sistema de la Unión Europea.

CE06 - Elaborar proyectos en el ámbito del sistema integrado por los ordenamientos de los Estados Miembros y de la Unión Europea.

CE07 - Elaborar propuestas, informes y dictámenes sobre materias propias del sistema integrado de la Unión Europea.

CE08 - Integrar la perspectiva institucional en el análisis de las normas y políticas de la Unión Europea

Students are expected to acquire extensive and advanced knowledge of the EU budgetary system. Learning will be based on the materials referred to or provided by the teaching staff. If required, academic guidance will be available on-line. In this regard, the teaching staff is committed to providing guidance that is tailored to the specific needs of individual students.

They are also encouraged to have a positive attitude towards the inter-relation of the various aspects of the EU organization. An intellectual attitude that is both open and critical will be required to examine the budgetary dimension of the problems currently faced by the EU. A good disposition towards autonomous work is essential to maximize the results of the course.

By the end of the course the students will be able to:

• Comprehend the budgetary procedure within the Europea Union.
• Acquire the role of the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament, among others.
• Learn about the financial autonomy of the European Union.
• Understand the problems of the EU budgeting process, its main lines and the importance of the information supplied.
• Know the implications that, at the budgetary level, derive from being a part of a supranational organization such as the European Union.
• Identify the difficulties coming from the lack of fiscal harmonisation to decide (in a homogeneus way) the budget efforts within the different EU member states in order to sustain the finances of the EU and its daily working process. 

The methodology followed in "Budget and Governance in the European Union" is to take place through well-tested methods of distance education as understood in open universities. In this sense, the virtual platform of the UNED will be the fundamental learning tool and self-study criteria will be used.

Teaching materials, documentation and data be provided to students through the virtual course, as far as possible. In addition, tutoring services will be offered to support students and to help them succeed. 

There is not a specific book explaining the "Budget and Governance in the European Union". Nevertheless, the virtual course will be used as a resource of fundamental support for the study and monitoring of the subject as well as a tool for ongoing assessment.

Teaching materials, documentation and data be provided to students through the virtual course, as far as possible. In addition, tutoring services will be offered to support students and to help them succeed.

The course will be conducted on-line. Access to learning materials, submission of essays and other documents, and communication between course participants will take place through the specific on-line channel designed and maintained for the course.