Elements of the integration theory

The main theories on trade and specialisation, the theory of the customs union: static and dynamic effects, Stages of the economic integration: free trade area, customs union, common market, economic and monetary union; theory of the common market: influence of the movement of means of production on welfare.

Evolution of the European Communities and the European Union

The Paris Treaty establishing the European coal and Steel Community, the Rome Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, the Rome Treaty establishing the Euratom, Accession Treaty of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark, Accession Treaty of Greece, the Single European Act, Accession Treaty of Spain and Portugal, Treaty establishing the European Union, Accession Treaty of Austria, Sweden and Finland, Amsterdam Treaty, Treaty of Nice, Accession Treaty of 10 Central East European Countries, Constitution for Europe and the future of the European Union.

Institutions of the European Communities and the European Union

The principal actors of European integration are the main institutions of the Community: the European Council (which provides the EU with the necessary impetus for its development, defines the general political guidelines and resolves the most important problems of the EU), the European Parliament (which has four functions: legislative, political, supervisory and budgetary), the Council of the European Union (which is the main decision-making body), the European Commission (which has the initiative to make proposals, is the executive body of the Community and plays an administrative role as the guardian of the Treaties).

Institutions of the European Communities and the European Union (continuations)

The Economic and Social Committee (which gives opinions on the draft of legal acts concerning mainly customers, entrepreneurs or just citizens), the Committee of the Region (which must be consulted by the Council or the EC on the matters relating to the following issues: employment, social matters, environment, education, training, culture and public health), the Court of Justice and the European Court of Auditors.

Decision-making process in the European Union

Procedures of the decision-making process and institutions involved in this process (consultation procedure, co-operation procedure, co-decision procedure).

Customs union within the European Community

Evolution of the European Union in the field of economic integration: from customs union to the internal market of the EU; elimination of traditional barriers: duties, quantitative restrictions and measures having equivalent effects, establishment of the common customs tariffs within the framework of the common commercial policy; consequences of enlargement for enterprises and their partners from third countries..

The evolution of the common commercial policy of the EU and the WTO rules

The common commercial (trade) policy within the Community's sphere of competence; the concept of "commercial policy" and "Community competence"; the common customs tariffs (CCT): the evolution of CCT, changes in the CCT effected by the negotiation round within the GATT/WTO; the common import arrangements and the common protective measures; safeguard measures; protection against dumped and subsidised imports; common export arrangements..

The pyramid of trade preferences of the European Community within the framework of the common commercial policy

Representation of the European Community by the European Commission in the field of common commercial policy; the 133 Committee, the main provisions of the European Economic Area Agreement, the political approach of EU towards future enlargement: Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey; Euro-Mediterranean Partnership in economic, social and political spheres; Development Policy of the EU including relations with ACP countries, Neighbourhood policy and relations with CIS, external relations of the EU with third countries - EU - USA and Japan.

Common agriculture policy

The problems of agriculture, the main objective and principles of CAP, agriculture support policies (common market organisations, price support mechanism, product quality).

Common agriculture policy (continuation)

Reforms of CAP, management and financing, direct support schemes for farmers, rural development policy, objectives and measures.

The internal market of the EC

"White paper" (1985) of the European Commission on completing the internal market: program of elimination of all physical, technical and fiscal obstacles within 7 years from its publication, which was characterised in particular by: a more flexible approach to harmonisation methods; 4 freedoms: free movement of goods, freedom to provide services, free transfer of capital and free movement of persons (including workers).

Competition policy

The common competition policy as an essential prerequisite to the achievement and maintenance of the single market; the EC Treaty's provisions concerning anti-trust policy: prohibition of agreements between undertakings, ban on the abuse of dominant position, prevention control of mergers and co-operations; definition of state aid and public aid; prohibition of state aid: aids compatible and incompatible with EU law, notification of state aid measures to the European Commission; general aids in response to genuine economic or social needs; the idea of the de minimis state aid; the obligations of reports on the beneficiaries of state aid..

Structural funds and Cohesion Fund

The nature of the regional problem, integration, enlargement and regional development, the European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund; reforms of the EU regional policy (3 objectives), social, regional and territorial cohesion, main challenges deriving from the 2004 enlargement,.

Economic and monetary union

Breton Wood’s System, Werner’s Report, The European Monetary system (exchange rate stability, ECU), provisions of the Maastricht Treaty on Economic and Monetary Union, budget deficit discipline and public debt, low inflation and long term rate, the European Central Bank and the European System of Central Banks, Euro as a new currency, the influence of implementation of euro on the EC economy,.

Lisbon Strategy

Lisbon Strategy in 2000: objectives, rules and conditions, mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy, W. Kok’s Report on the implementation of the Lisbon strategy, renewed Lisbon strategy: growth and job creation, functioning and main achievements of the Competitiveness Council and Spring European Councils.