EU External Actions: Socio-Economic Outlook

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:6.00

Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:29:17

Study Course Information
Course Code:		SBUEK_206		LQF level:		All Levels
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Economics; Regional Economics		Target Audience:		Sociology; Political Science; Juridical Science; Social Anthropology; Public Health; Social Welfare and Social Work; Management Science; Communication Science; Pedagogy; Business Management; Information and Communication Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Tatjana Muravska
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		8	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		16
Classes (count)		8	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		16
Total Contact Hours								32
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		3	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		6
Classes (count)		5	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		10
Total Contact Hours								16
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Basic knowledge of economics.
Objective:
The aim of the course is to provide knowledge to students on the socio-economic aspects of the EU's external relations in the context of the the "Triple A" regions’ countries. The course will offer students insights of EU interests in sustainable economic and social developments in these regions.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	The EU as an economic, trade power and a global regulatory actor.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
2	Economic outlook and sectoral analysis of the North American national economies.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
3	Economic outlook of Asia and national economies in Central Asia.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
4	Economic outlook and sectoral analysis of national economics of Latin America and African countries.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
5	The effectiveness of the EU external economic policies: EU – US bilateral relations.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
6	EU – Canada Comprehensive Economic Agreement (CETA): impacts and advantages.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	EU trade policies and trade agreements: EU – Mercosur; EU – Asia; EU – Central Asia; EU – African countries.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
8	EU cooperation development policies and cooperation with UN and WTO.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	The EU as an economic, trade power and a global regulatory actor.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
2	Economic outlook and sectoral analysis of the North American national economies.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
3	Economic outlook of Asia and national economies in Central Asia.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
4	Economic outlook and sectoral analysis of national economics of Latin America and African countries.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
5	The effectiveness of the EU external economic policies: EU – US bilateral relations.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
6	EU – Canada Comprehensive Economic Agreement (CETA): impacts and advantages.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	EU trade policies and trade agreements: EU – Mercosur; EU – Asia; EU – Central Asia; EU – African countries.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
8	EU cooperation development policies and cooperation with UN and WTO.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Work with literature; data search, analysis of literature sources; case studies analysis. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
Activity during interactive lectures – 60%; solving case studies tasks in classes – 40%.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):		Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Upon successful completion of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of the EU's activities and its economic and social policies in the context of the EU's external relations with focus on the countries of the "Triple A" regions. Students will gain understanding and knowledge of socio-economic trends in the countries of the AAA regions, as well as the decision-making process of the EU institutions and its impact on economic and social processes in Asia, Central Asia, Africa and the Americas.
Skills:		Students will get the following skills: • to strengthen analytical skills and explain socio-economic and political developments in Europe and externally; • to analyze EU social and economic policies using a variety of analytical methods and tools; • to assess and analyze EU development cooperation and trade policies. • to gain ability to make proposals for necessary improvements in EU actions on economic and social policy issues in the target countries.
Competencies:		Students are able to perform independent, critical analysis, apply economic methods to the analysis of EU social and economic policy, assess the economic parameters of trade activities and assess the essence of the EU and WTO system.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Keukeleire, S. & Delreux, T. (Eds.) The Foreign Policy of the European Union (2nd Edition). New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.
2	Adam Balogh. „EU Socio-Economic Governance”. GRIN Verlag, 2013.
3	Daniel C. Thomas. „Making EU Foreign Policy: National Preferences, European Norms and Common Policies”. Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.
Additional Reading
1	European Commission Communication „Increasing the impact of EU Development Policy: an Agenda for Change”.
2	Assessment Report on EU-ASEAN Countries Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
3	EU Contribution to the Millennium Development Goals, R European Commission.