Target groupPublic officials preparing to assume EU responsibilities, EU affairs professionals, people needing to quickly acquire a comprehensive familiarity with how EU decisions are taken. DescriptionThis is a self-standing ‘immersion’ course. It is also a suitable basis for participation in the specialised courses offered by EIPA on particular aspects of EU decision-making. The course first provides a framework for understanding EU decision-making. It briefly explains the treaty structure and the different kinds of competences which have been given to the EU. The different phases in the policy cycle are then addressed in detail.Learning methodologyThe elaboration of a Commission proposal is presented, with emphasis on public consultation and impact assessment. The course explains how a legislative proposal is dealt with in the Parliament and Council, and the ordinary legislative procedure is illustrated by a case study. In order to gain a feel for the practice of legislative decision-making, participants simulate the preparation and conduct of an informal ‘trilogue’ in the framework of the ordinary legislative procedure. The final session reviews the system of ‘delegated acts’ and ‘implementing acts’ which are adopted at EU level on the basis of legislative acts, and the practical and institutional issues which have had to be addressed. ObjectivesParticipants will understand the principles and structures of the EU system and the basic competences and functioning of the EU institutions; they will be familiar with the different stages in the legislative cycle; and they will have an insight into how decisions are reached in practice.