KAFP 4400 - Simulation of EU

In the course students play an active role in a simulated legislative decision-making process based on a real policy proposal by the European Commission, EU legislation, and the rules of procedure of the EU institutions. The aim of the negotiation is to achieve a credible political outcome. The objective of the exercise is to become familiar, through practice, with negotiation techniques and the EU decision-making process, and to experience how such factors as time pressure, communication skills, expertise, credibility, emotions, informality, or personality can impact the outcomes of a formal legislative negotiation. Throughout the exercise, students impersonate members of the European Parliament, of the Council of the EU, the European Commission, civil society and industry stakeholders, and journalists.

Students are expected to have a background on policy-making in the European Union, including an understanding of how the EU institutions work, the legislative decision-making process, and the main fields of competence of the EU’s political action.

After a first lecture where the instructors explain how the simulation works and provide background on negotiation techniques, proceedings, and topic of the negotiation, students are given a specific role to play during the rest of the exercise. On the last day they receive feedback on their performance from both the professors and some real EU negotiators.

The evaluation is based upon individual and group performance in the simulation exercise (40% of the final mark), and two individual assignments (30 + 30%). Each student must complete a position paper and a final assignment to inform the position of their player in the negotiation.

Students prepare for the negotiation relying both on institutional documents and examples provided by the instructors, and official sources that are to be found online. They are expected to master relevant information that is available to the public, especially that concerning the player they impersonate in the simulation.