Investigating EU Policies to foster the Rule of Law, (EU4LAW)” was funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union between 2020-2023.
Objectives
Objectives
Since several years there is an ongoing debate within the EU institutions, among stakeholders, the public and the media on the issue of democratic backsliding in EU member states and the decay of European integration. The EU Commission and the EU Parliament have launched several reactive and preventive tools against this phenomenon. These include policies to develop a shared culture of rule of law among member states, the collaboration with the Council of Europe, a rule of law review cycle, the usage of infringement procedures at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), or the connection of funding from the EU budget to the non-flawed operation of the rule of law.
The Jean Monnet Module “Investigating EU Policies to foster the Rule of Law (EU4Law)” will examine these activities more closely since they are a fundamental determinant for an effective, democratic and legitimate functioning of EU integration. This will be realised through several activities in the fields of teaching, research and public debate.
EU4Law modules enable the participating graduate students to study and to apply theoretical concepts from the social sciences in an interdisciplinary perspective. They deepen their knowledge on how the EU multi-level system works and in which opportunity structures state and non-state actors operate in order to engage and interfere in policy-making in the field of rule of law. In addition, they train their methodological skills through case study research and will learn how to conduct fieldwork in the EU sphere. PhD-students from our department’s two Graduate Schools support these activities. A specific focus is laid on students who train to become a teacher and they are prepared to disseminate knowledge about the European Union in schools.
In addition to the expansion of the EU4Law classroom across HU’s student levels, departments and other Berlin-based universities, the use of new technologies for distance and blended learning allows to widen the module also internationally. Students from the other side of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, are included. Hence, the module offers international experiences for a wide range of participants, contributes to their intercultural learning and bundles activities and knowledge across several universities.
All in all, graduate students from different social science related disciplines and study programmes will have the opportunity to gain an in-depth knowledge about the way the European Union works. They will learn about law-making and soft-policy measures, such as benchmarks and financial incentives. Future young researchers at the end of their MA will learn how to prepare research projects for their MA thesis through participation in the EU4Law seminars and specific methodological training.
Finally, the wider public, practitioners, teachers and civil society actors are addressed, informed about and included in the Module’s activities through several events in collaboration with the Berlin Town Hall and Senate and the Berlin School for Professional Education.
Courses
Courses
The courses provided through EU4Law enable the participating students to apply theoretical concepts from the social sciences in an interdisciplinary perspective.
They learn in detail how the EU multi-level system works and which opportunity structures shape political actors’ behaviour. Moreover, they train their methodological skills on how to conduct a policy or a case study analysis and how to undertake an analysis of EU documents, among others.
The courses offered in the framework of the Jean Monnet Module cover 60 hours of teaching, focusing on topics that investigate the EU Policies to foster the Rule of Law.
The Rule of Law – a concept in political science and an EU policy area
(winter term 2020/21)
This course served as an introduction into academic and political discussions on the concept of the rule of law. It fostered their background on and critical understanding of relevant EU institutions and their decision-making processes and practices regarding the rule of law. The course provided training on how to find relevant content on EU websites, identify relevant political players and how to read EU documents.
Policy-Making in the EU – a focus on the rule of law and policy measures
(summer term 2021)
Students learned different academic concepts for the analysis of policy-making in the European Union and discussed related political debates. The course engaged in a detailed analysis of relevant EU institutions and used a case study approach. Additionally, the seminar hosted guest lectures from practitioners (Gregor Pfeifer from the European Parliament`s Liaison Office in Berlin and Wenzel Michalski from Human Rights Watch Germany). It also offered the opportunity to develop and work on the EU4Law-Wiki and engaged in interactive online discussions with students from University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. These four students took the course as a virtual study abroad option. Thus, the whole group both contributed to and benefited from an expanded virtual classroom allowing to integrate and reflect upon different backgrounds and learning experiences.
Euroscepticism and Democratic Backsliding
(winter term 2021/22)
The seminar presented students the opportunity to improve their understanding of the academic reflection on the concept of Euroscepticism, the nature of democratic backsliding. It fostered their background on everyday practices of EU institutions and decision-making processes in order to enhance their ability to analyse the dynamics within the member states. Students were able to discuss their insights in class and again they interacted in online sessions with students from the UNC. Moroever, a joint block seminar with two profound experts, Prof. Dr. Astrid Lorenz from the Leipzig Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, Prof. Dr. Ellen Bos from Andrássy University Budapest and their students from Leipzig University, was conducted on January 7, 2022. This special, day-long event covered the rule of law and development of democracy from a comparative perspective by having various inputs from students and lecturers and ended with a practical discussion on how to use the insights gained for improving political education in schools and in the university. The schedule can be found here.
Policy-Making in the EU – focus on rule of law
(summer term 2022)
The course offered students the opportunity to improve their understanding of academic and political discussions on the concept of the rule of law and fostered their background on everyday practices of EU institutions. They learned about decision-making processes that aim to enhance the functioning of the rule of law among the member states. The course focused on research methods, training them to find relevant content on EU websites and to analysing EU documents. The students increased their knowledge on theoretical approaches to analyse policy-making, such as the Advocacy Coalition and the Multiple Streams Framework and they learned how to identify relevant political players. Again, a student from UNC attended the course online as a virtual study abraod exerience. During the seminar an excursion to Brussels including several site visits (see schedule here) took place. Since not every students was able to make the trip, the visit to the European Commission took place online so that everybody was able to join, in Berlin and in Brussels.
Political Actors engaging in the policy field “rule of law”
(winter term 2022/23)
Actor-centred concepts in political science and sociology were at the core of this seminar. It enriched the students’ expertise on the analysis of attitudes, perceptions and political behaviour. They studied individuals or groups, such as politicians, judges, entrepreneurs, parties or civil society groups who engage in defence of the rule of law or contribute to its decline. During the seminar, a special activity took place. HU-students went on an excursion to the Université catholique de Louvain in the course of the Circle U alliance. In mixed teams from both universities, the students simulated an EU Council Meeting on Ukraine’s application to become an EU member state and they visited the European Commission as well as the Representation of Belgium to the EU. The concept and schedule of the excursion can be found here. It provided a unique experience to put theory into practice and to profit from a collaborative, international learning experience.
Researching the European Union
(summer term 2023)
The seminar focused on various topics that train students to research the European Union. It deepened their background on methods and theories for the analysis of Europeanisation, integration and multi-level governance. It concluded the establishment of the EU4Law Wiki.
A talk with Danish foreigh minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and the German Secretary of State for Europe and Climate, Dr. Anna Lührmann on May 9, and a conference with Deutsche Gesellschaft e.V. again allowed to add practical and theoretical knowledge.
Activities/Events
Activities/Events
September 2023: The Rule of Law – Bridging or Sanctioning Differenes? Leipzig Rule of Law Conference
September 2-29, 2023, Federal Administrative Court, Simsonpl. 1, 04107, Leipzig.
Dr. Matthes acted as a panel moderator and as a speaker at the conference “The Rule of Law – Bridging or Sanctioning Differences?” organised by Saxon State Ministry of Justice and for Democracy, European Affairs and Gender Equality in Cooperation with Leipzig University and the Federal Administrative Court in September 28-29, 2023. Dr. Claudia Mathess led the discussion on “Debating Civil Society Revolt Against Rule of Law Challenges” and shared her expertise in “Judicial Activism against Rule of Law Challenges and its Effects on Defining Rule of Law Standards”.
Photo Credit: Daniel Meißner
July 2023: Judges Under Pressure: Wie Polens Regierung den Rechtsstaat attackiert
July 23, 2023, Gebäude der Juristischen & Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Leibniz Universität Hannover, Königsworther Platz 1, 30167 Hannover
An insightful panel discussion was held at Leibniz Universität Hannover. The film “Judges under Pressure” was screened. The discussion concerning the developments in Poland was then continued by Dr. Claudia Matthes, Dr. Anna-Lena Hollo, and Dr. Philipp Köker.
Judges under Pressure: “In June 2023, the European Court of Justice rules that the so-called “judicial reform” in Poland violates EU law. The government has been systematically trying to undermine the rule of law. The documentary “Judges under Pressure” impressively shows how Polish judges risk their freedom in the fight for an independent judiciary and civil rights risk their freedom.”
June 2023: Europa und seine Zukunft – Impulse aus politischer Bildungsarbeit sowie der Konferenz zur Zukunft Europas
June 20, 2023, Jean-Monnet-Auditorium, Mauerstr. 83/84, 10117 Berlin
This conference, held in German, addressed students of the social and educational sciences. It was jointly organised with Deutsche Gesellschaft e.V., registered association for the promotion of political, cultural and social relations in Europe. Two experts from Deutsche Gesellschaft introduced their didactical concepts and tools on how they teach the European Union in schools. In an interactive discussion with the students, they shared their successful experiences, their challenges and how they manage to overcome the latter when debating with Eurosceptic audiences. The students also received many valuable insights on the field of political education as a potential future field of employment and professional development.
In the second half of the conference, Mr. Georg Pfeiffer, Head of the European Parliament’s Liaison Office in Berlin, provided an input. He talked about the Conference on the Future of Europe, its results and ongoing impulses for reforms, but also about the shortcomings of this process. Following up on that, Mr. Pfeiffer introduced the EP’s campaign for the upcoming elections and the initiatives unfolded to stimulate an increase of turnout.
At the end of the event, students had the occasion to chat informally with the speakers and to learn more about the two institutions and their objectives.
Schedule:
14:00 – 14:05 Dr. Claudia Matthes, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin – Einführung und Eröffnung.
14:05 – 16:00 Sebastian Rösner & Dr. Lukas Zidella, Deutsche Gesellschaft e. V- Die EU in der politischen Bildungsarbeit und Einblicke in die europapolitischen Vermittlungsangebote der Deutschen Gesellschaft.
Pause
16:15 – 17:30 Georg Pfeiffer, Vertretung des Europäischen Parlaments in Berlin – Die Konferenz zur Zukunft Europas und die Europawahlen 2024.
17:30 – 18:00 Ausklang und Möglichkeiten zum informellen Gespräch.
June 2023: Brussels-Lux Study Tour, 18-24 June 2023
For the educators’ study tour of the University of North Carolina’s Jean Monnet Center of Excellence, Dr. Claudia Matthes provided an introduction to the European Union on June 18. She talked about the EU’s history and current institutional features as a preparation for the site visits in Brussels and Luxemburg. In addition to her presentation, she provided the teachers with information on several hot topics and current events debated in the news between June 19-23 so that they were well prepared for their guest speakers and for posing questions to them.
June 2022: EU4 Law Town Hall Conference – Cities and the Rule of Law
June 29, 2022, Red Town Hall, Louise-Schroeder-Saal, Rathausstr. 15, 10178 Berlin in cooperation between the Berlin Senate Chancellery and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
The debate on the shortcomings of the rule of law and the curtailment of judicial independence is often portrayed as a cause of disagreement between EU institutions and member state governments. While many citizens perceive this as an abstract debate that is detached from their everyday lives, in fact, the opposite is true. Local self-government is impacted, too, and this has direct consequences for the administrations’ ability to provide public services. One response, e.g. from mayors across Europe, was their letter to the European Commission that the EU should redirect their funds directly to the local level.
The EU4Law Town Hall Conference brought together practitioners from public administration, civil society actors and academics from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Berlin, along with the wider public as the recipients of public services. The dialogue between these diverse participants, who otherwise have little contact, provided a comprehensive and comparative understanding of the problem. The aim was to discuss not only the relevance of the rule of law for the local level, but also to exchange experience and to discuss what needs to be done in the future, e.g. through civic education. In addition, this conference explored how the EU and the local level can connect in a more direct and effective way.
The participants shared the understanding that without the rule of law, transparency and reliability of administrative procedures as well as sufficient revenues and self-government capacities, cities cannot function properly and citizens lose confidence in their administration. They also stressed that there are strong signs of hope: Many cities are sources of resistance and vibrant democratic communities. Their networking among each other and especially the “Pact of Free Cities” help them to retrieve their scope of action. Talks with the EU Commission about redirecting financial means directly to the local level are going on, even though member states are not too eager to share their budgets. As the most important outcome, the conference found: City diplomacy has become extremely relevant and intense. Cities have turned into important agents of democratic resilience.
Schedule:
14:00 – 14:10 Ms. Ana-Maria Trăsnea, State of Berlin Delegate to the Federation, Permanent Secretary for Active Citizenship, Democracy Support and International Relations – Welcoming Address
14:10 – 14:15 Dr. Claudia Matthes, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (EU4Law Project) – Opening Remarks
14:15 – 14:45 Mr. Roman Szełemej, Mayor of Wałbrzych (Poland) – Keynote Speech on the Meaning of Rule of Law for Local Administrations
14:45 – 15:30 Session 1: Rule of Law, Finances and Local Budgets, opening inputs from Ms. Borbála Korsós, Deputy Mayor of the I. District of Budapest and Mr. Olaf Osica, Head of the Strategy and Analysis Office of City of Warsaw Office
15:30 – 16:15 Session 2: Judicial Systems and Their Relevance for Public Administration, opening input from Dr. Gülçin Coşkun, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
16:30 – 17:15 Session 3: Strengthening the Rule of Law through Civic Education, opening inputs from Prof. Aldona Wiktorska-Święcka, University of Wrocław and Ms. Annegret Wulff, Managing Director of MitOst
17:15 – 18:00 Session 4: Local Administration in Collaboration with the EU, opening input from Dr. Benedek Jávor, Head of Representation of the City of Budapest in Brussels
18:00 – 18:10 Final Remarks by Dr. Claudia Matthes
March and May 2022: Joint Activity with the UNC Jean Monnet Center of Excellence
Multilevel Governance and Federal Politics in Comparison – Transatlantic Excursion
In the winter term of 2021/22 and the summer term of 2022, a joint seminar was conducted by the Jean Monnet Center of Excellence of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Humboldt University of Berlin, followed by two excursions to Chapel Hill and Berlin.
Dr. Dominic Nyhuis and Dr. Claudia Matthes connected their seminars called “European Multilevel Governance” (UNC) and “Germany – a Federal System in Europe” (HU) to an interactive collaboration allowing students of both universities to work on common projects. The students researched current transatlantic issues from different perspectives, especially with regard to multilevel governance and federalism. Their topics covered the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic, political polarization, public education and civil rights, migration and diversity as well as local economies in federalist states.
Five digital seminars were then followed by two five-day visits conducted in spring 2022. In March, ten HU-students and Dr. Matthes visited Chapel Hill and in May, ten UNC students and Dr. Nyhuis traveled to Berlin. In addition to the work on their projects, the students visited several political and cultural institutions and were thus able to get a better understanding of the working and implications of federalist structures in both, the US and Germany.
The student projects are published here.
Partners
Partners
EU4LAW is supported by members from institutions across Europe and Turkey. Our members are experts in a wide-range of issues that foster an international and interdisciplinary approach to EU-politics and policies.
Middle East Technical University: www.ir.metu.edu.tr/en/ozlem-tur
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: www.europe.unc.edu
Leipzig University: www.home.uni-leipzig.de/jmcoe
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