OAFP 6230 - The Brussels Effect and EU Interest Representation

The European Union (EU) is often referred to as a “normative power” given its ability to set and influence global standards through the so-called ‘Brussels effect’. In the current context of heightened global power competition, the EU openly acknowledges the importance of capitalising on its regulatory standard setting capacity to remain influential on the global scene. Yet, its regulatory approach is under scrutiny both from foreign powers, most notably the current US administration, and domestically due to its impacts on the competitiveness of the EU industry. Against this background, the objective of this class is two-fold: (i) equipping students with the intellectual tools to understand the strategic role that regulation plays for the EU, and (ii) introducing them to the dynamics of EU regulatory policymaking and interest representation, while focusing on real-life regulatory debates. A regulatory workshop will teach students how to draft amendments to EU legislation, and how to develop an effective advocacy strategy.

To achieve these aims, the class will be structured in three parts. The (i) first part will provide students with an overview of the strategic role that regulation plays for the EU (the so-called ‘Brussels Effect’). The (ii) second part will focus on the dynamics behind EU policymaking and interest representation (key actors, roles, and different strategies). The (iii) third part will focus on case studies of real-life regulatory policy debate related to sustainability and financial markets regulation, given the salience of these areas. Finally, a series of interactive debates with practitioners (from both the public and the private sector) who have participated in regulatory policy debates seen in class will corroborate the theoretical knowledge acquired in class.

No legal background or previous knowledge or experience in regulation is required. The class will provide students with the skills to understand the strategic role that regulation plays for the EU. The class might be regarded as complementary to a number of other classes offered by the School.

Each session will be opened by two short individual presentations from students defending opposing stances on a question related to the topic of the session, followed by a short debate. The teacher will then present the key notions on the topic of the session on an interactive basis. The three final sessions will be entirely dedicated to interactive discussions with guest speakers representing the different stakeholders participating in the regulatory policy-making debate (i.e. MEP and assistant, representative of international trade and consumers associations)

The final grade will be the weighted average of:

individual oral presentation (10-15 minutes max) assessing the capacity to argue in favour of a given stance and debate (45%),

short position paper proposing and defending an amendment to a given legislative proposal and setting out a brief regulatory strategy to achieve that outcome (word limit: 700 words) (45% - to be handed over by session 10) and

class participation 10%

The course will rely on material and content seen in class.