This course follows selected topics of current and historic interest of European economic integration. As regional  market integration, competition dynamics are important parts of the functioning of the EU, we will discuss related topics, such as regulation and competition, the economic rationale of competition, and the relation between competition policy and law. Theorem and case-law will be discussed.

The economic integration of the EU is the starting point: light touch macroeconomics and the advantages of a regional economic integration will be introduced: why,s whens and hows, from a developmental point of view. From the customs union we will follow the path to the single market and recent political developments. Our schedule puts emphasis on historical economic legacy, regulatory issues and competition policy. We will review the EU's institutional set-up, we will talk about inter-governmentalism and supranationalism, and finish the course with discussing some industrial policies, but not before we understand the functioning of the Internal Market and the Competition Rules governing it.

The aim of the course is to get acquainted with the buzzwords of specialized EU business reporting and move comfortably in the EU regulatory environment. Students will become familiar with the rules on the internal market (the free movement of the four freedoms), competition policy, telecommunication and water supply, and will gain knowledge about the functioning of the European Union. Attendees will also have a confrontational view of theoretical economics and practical application of long-standing principles, such as free market competition, trade liberalisation, quantitative restrictions and efficiency.

Home assignments complete the class, which shed light on some comparative issues in US/EU  architecture and policy making.

Those who chose to attend the honours part of the course (1 extra credit), are required to engage in extra curricular activities: research and analysis of a chosen subject matter of personal interest, and then write an in-depth study (pp. 15-20) about. The subject of the research must relate to the main themes of the course, however individualization is foreseen. During this exercise, honours students are regularly contacted and consulted by the lecturer, their research is closely followed. 

1. Introduction to the EU, basic notions.
2. Economics of integration: costs and benefits (demand, supply, open-economy and closed trade area).
3. Historical overview of the economic and monetary integration process in Western Europe: from World War II to the recent times. (Political reasons, Churchill’s Zurich speech, CMEA, UNECE, OEEC-OECD, EPU, federalism - inter-governmentalism).
4. The EU within the globalized world economy. Examples of other regional economic integrations (South America, Arab world, Asia).
5. Intergovernmentalism - Supranationalism.
6. The EU institutions: the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council of Ministers, and the European Court of Justice.
7. Decision—making process.
8. The theory of trade and EU. Free movement of goods, persons, services, capital. The way from customs union to the Internal Market.
9. The Single Market: the process of economic integration in the EU. Barriers to trade – some examples of the evolving case law of the EC.  
10. Mid-term wrap-up. Presentation of term-paper.
11. Sectoral policies: different levels of integration (agriculture, transport, telecoms, culture).
12. Competition Policy in the EU.
13. Economics of Competition. The basics.
14. Recent trends towards converging economic policies. Example of Connecting Europe Facility.
15. The process of monetary integration in Europe: from the European Monetary System (EMS) to the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).
16. Some case study on regional non-EU economies (UK, Switzerland). Advantages and disadvantages of the Eurozone from an outsider’s point of view.