‘I’m participating in that meeting in Brussels next week. Is it an expert group or a comitology committee?’

‘I need to brief my boss about what to expect. Will the Commission ask her to vote?’

‘How can I know where our issue is in the EU decision process, and what comes next?’

Simple questions, the answers to which may be complex, and yet can make your job easier. This course will get you up to speed on the essential elements of how the EU system works: the different powers that the EU has, who does what, and how you can have a role in shaping EU decisions. It is concise but thorough, and focuses in detail on EU law-making.

What you will learn

The legal bases for what the EU can and cannot do, and the different powers that Member States have given to the EU
The main ways in which decisions are taken, i.e. the toolbox of EU policy-making
The hierarchy of EU law and the differences between legislative acts, implementing acts (the world of ‘comitology’!) and delegated acts using topical case studies
The ordinary legislative procedure and how ‘trilogues’ work
The decision-making procedures within the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament, and the ways in which national officials and other stakeholders fit into the policy-making process
Course methodoloy

This course is based on ‘blended learning’ methodology with both online and in-person interaction prior, during and after the course. Throughout the course, there is plenty of time for questions and opportunity for discussions.

The course methodology was updated to include:

Additional interactive online elements to facilitate participants’ independent learning
Extended time in sessions to allow for targeted feedback on independent learning activities
New examples and updated case studies to embed practical knowledge into current developments of EU decision-making
We believe the best way to learn is by applying practical knowledge. That is why this course includes:

Extensive insights with multiple examples and real-life cases
Quizzes
Group exercises
Role plays and simulation exercises
Input from experienced EU practitioners as the basis for discussion among participants about the practical demands of participation in the policy process
To get maximum benefits out of this course, irrespective of your level of knowledge on EU decision-making, we advise you to book the full training programme, consisting of two modules: Introductory Course (online) and Main course (in-person).

For this course we offer the following options:

Option 1
Book the full programme including the online Introductory Course (6 and 8 November) plus the in-person Main Course (13-15 November) if you need a comprehensive course on EU decision-making.

Option 2:
Book only the in-person Main Course if you are familiar with the foundations of EU decision-making, i.e. institutional framework, competences, and principles and instruments of policy-making

Option 3:
Book only the online Introductory Course if you want to have a brief introduction or refresh your knowledge about the foundations of EU decision-making.