PELKMANS J. - EU Regulation for Business (20h)

At the end of the course, the student will:

  • Be familiar with the economic rationale(s) and contours of the EU regulatory acquis.
  • Better understand how EU regulation has developed over time, how this was achieved, and what types or areas of EU regulation matter for European Businesses.
  • Better understand horizontal and sectoral EU regulation, its application in relevant policy fields, and the principles it is based on.
  • Be able to apply an economic cost-benefit analysis of EU regulation, to acquire profound insight about what could be considered “good”, “bad” and “better” regulation.

EU regulation ought to be in the EU public interest. Usually, this implies that, when the EU level is the appropriate one for addressing the problem, EU regulation should overcome or solve (EU internal) market failures. The course explores the rationale for regulation, the history of the EU regulatory processes (in a stylized form) , and the change in the EU’s regulatory approach to "Better Regulation". A substantial part of the course deals with the regulatory acquis of the EU in considerable detail, including both horizontal and sectoral regulation, and also both goods and services. Focus is given to the complexity caused by the multi-level nature of European regulation (including subsidiarity issues). Some simple cost-benefit analysis of EU regulation is introduced.

Outline

  • Regulation and the EU business interface (what? why? and how?).
  • Towards 'better EU regulation', including mutual recognition and subsidiarity 
  • Horizontal EU regulation, principles and scope
  • EU sectoral regulation : horizontal logic in 5 key areas
  • EU sectoral regulation (2): comparing heavily regulated sectors
  • EU regulation of services.
  • The benefits and costs of EU risk regulation.

Please consult ECTS card.

Academic year
2021 - 2022
Semester
First semester
Course type
Compulsory courses
ECTS Points
3.00