European integration
Free/
16.03.2026/3 ECTS
Who is this course for?
Who is this course for?
The European Union is often discussed in simplified terms. This course is for those who want to move beyond slogans and better understand the logic of EU governance: how decisions are made, why they take the form they do, and how Ukraine is expected to work within this system. The EU is presented not as an abstract ideal, but as a political reality shaped by complex decision-making, compromise, and real institutional constraints. Admission is based on competitive selection open until 2 March. Results will be communicated by email by 6 March.
Course overview
Course overview
This course offers a clear and structured guide to the logic of European integration - from its history, values, and rules to EU institutions, decision-making processes, and key policy areas—while keeping a strong and practical focus on Ukraine’s reform agenda and EU accession negotiations. The programme brings together “inside-the-EU” expertise from the lead lecturer Jochen M. Richter, with over 30 years of experience in EU institutions, and an in-depth analytical perspective on Ukraine provided by programme director Petro Baykovskyy alongside leading experts from Ukrainian think tanks.
Course curriculum
The European Union: From Utopia to the Future of Europe
Founding Treaties, Values, and Fundamental Rights of the European Union
EU Institutions: Executive Power
EU Institutions: Legislative Power
The Rule of Law and the Judicial System of the European Union
European Parliament Elections, Party Politics, and Lobbying at the EU Level
Types of EU Policies and the EU Policymaking Process. The EU Budget
The Internal Market of the European Union
EU Enlargement Policy
The European Union’s Foreign and Defence Policy
Final Assignments, Assessment Process, and Programme Wrap-Up
On this course you will find
Understand the EU’s complex political system in a clear and structured way
See how decision-making in the EU works beyond official narratives
Learn how EU policies shape member states and their economies
Explore Ukraine’s opportunities and constraints on the path to EU membership
Engage in live webinars with lecturers and invited experts
Study through short video lectures designed to fit a busy professional schedule
