The 19 October signals the start of the Jean Monnet Module EUMPC: "Brexit Contagion, Copenhagen Dilemma and Enlargement Fatigue: European Union Membership Policy at the Crossroads". A Jean Monnet Module is a teaching programme (or course) in the field of European Union studies at a higher education institution. It is financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme. The activities of the module will lead to the setup of a new tailor-made course on the EU’s (renewed) membership policy at the Institute of Political Science. This two-semester seminar will look at the subject from a comparative perspective, focusing on the United Kingdom’s withdrawal process (Art. 50 TEU) and its implications for the accession processes (Art. 49 TEU) of Turkey and the Western Balkans. For more information, please click here.

With the beginning of winter semester, consultation hours of Oliver Schwarz will take place in LF 321 Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. beginning on 12 October 2017 and ending on 18 January 2018. To make an appointment, please click here.

In his latest contribution to Regierungsforschung.de, Oliver Schwarz shows the possible options and the added value of an associated Union citizenship.

Students can participate in a photo competition of the mentoring programme at University of Duisburg-Essen (UMS). For more information, please click here.

Students who want to participate in the third round of "NRW debattiert Europa" can not register for the preparatory seminar via LSF. For more information, please visit nrwdebattierteuropa.eu.

Currently, Oliver Schwarz is searching for three student assistants. Please find the job vancies here and here.

On 28 July, the European Commission published the selection results of its Jean Monnet Activities 2017. Oliver Schwarz is happy to supervise the Jean Monnet Module "Brexit Contagion, Copenhagen Dilemma and Enlargement Fatigue: European Union Membership Policy at the Crossroads" as an academic coordinator at University of Duisburg-Essen. The module will run for three years, starting in the winter semester 2017/18.

In his guest contribution to the blog of TruLies Europe, Oliver Schwarz reflects on the idea of an associated Union citizenship. TruLies is a project aided by the Stiftung Mercator and run by the Institute for European Politics (IEP) in cooperation with Das Progressive Zentrum.

The consultation hours of Oliver Schwarz during semester break are available online on Doodle. To make an appointment, please click here.

Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation: An Answer to the Double Democratic Deficit in the Area of CFSP and CSDP?
S&F Sicherheit und Frieden
DOI: 10.5771/0175-274X-2017-2-85
The status of democratic legitimacy in European foreign, security and defence policy has been a highly contested issue over the last few decades. Due to its largely intergovernmental nature, prominent scholars have even argued a double democratic deficit. With the Lisbon Treaty in force, inter-parliamentary cooperation has been constantly put forward as an answer to this deficit. Against this background, this article examines the Inter-Parliamentary Conference (IPC) on Common Foreign and Security Policy and on Common Security and Defence Policy (CFSP/CSDP) established in 2012. It concludes that the IPC is an important step forward in answering the double democratic deficit, but further changes need to be made.

For students who tend to procrastinate, it's once again time to get started, keep going and finish. There are various workshops offered at the 8th "Long Saturday of postponed papers". The Long Saturday will take place on 15 July. For more information, please click here.

On 31 May, Cas Mudde (University of Georgia) will give a speech on the topic "Populism in Eastern and Western Europe". The event is organised by the Southeast Europe Association (SOG) in cooperation with the Mittagsforum of the Institute of Political Science. All people interested are welcome. For more information, please click here.

From 5 to 6 April, Oliver Schwarz will participate at the conference "The Political Role of the European Central Bank in European Union Governance" at University of Duisburg-Essen. He will serve as a chair in the panel on "Politics and Financial Stability in EMU". For more information on the conference, please click here.

On 18 May, Thomas Brey (dpa) will give a speech on the topic "EU candidate Serbia between West and East". The event is organised by the Southeast Europe Association (SOG). All people interested are welcome. For more information, please click here.

The consultation hours of Oliver Schwarz during semester break are available online on Doodle. To make an appointment, please click here.