Politics and Policies of the European Union (in English)

Contact persons

Assoc. Prof. Mirela Veleva, Head of the Program – mirellavele@gmail.com
Prof. Georgi Dimitrov, Deputy Head of the Program – georgi@phls.uni-sofia.bg
Dr. Desislava Karaasenova, Program coordinator – desi.kara@gmail.com

Annotation: The interdisciplinary MA in Politics and Policies of the European Union (in English) aims to advance and deepen the competences of students from both EU countries, Bulgaria included, and non-EU countries from the near neighborhoods and beyond, who are interested in Euro-integration and the variety of public policies through which it is carried out. The Program helps students acquire knowledge and competences, based on a broad interdisciplinary training, that are necessary for successful implementation of the public policies though which the European integration is maintained and developed.

Courses offered: European Political Process (institutions and representation of interests); Comparative European Public Administration; Theories of European Integration; Policies Formulation and Participation in the Decision-Making Process; EU Enlargement Conditionality; Political History of the EU’s Enlargements; European Integration through Public Policies; Rotational Presidency of the EU; Regional Policy of the EU; EU’s Standards and Policies of Rule of law; Policies of Pressure in the EU; EU’s Energy Policy; EU’s Policy towards the WB and Neighbourhood Policy; European Migration Policy; EU Foreign & Security Policy; Administrative Reforms in the EU Countries – Theories and Practices; Transnational Organized Crime in the EU.

Faculty Members: All teaching staff members are renowned political science researchers who are well published in Bulgarian and English.

Duration of Studies: two semesters of course attendance plus a third semester for writing the MA thesis.

Admission Requirements: The program is open to BA degree holders in social sciences, political and administrative sciences, economics, law and humanities.

In order to apply you have to send the following documents:

• A copy of your ID document
• Your updated CV with an explicit statement about the level of English language proficiency
• A legalized copy of you diploma with transcript of the grades
• A motivation letter which will convince the Program Board in the authenticity of your academic aspirations and interest in this particular program
• Two recommendation letters by professors who know your previous academic performance.

These documents should be sent to the Program Board electronically by September 20th at the latest to http://ma.su-phls.info/en/.

More information about the rules and procedures for applying for MA programs at Sofia University is available at https://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/admission

and

https://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/admission/international_students/master_s_degree_programs_in_english_or_other_foreign_languages

Tuition fee:

1) citizens of EU/EEA and Switzerland – students in residence: € 1500 per semester.
2) all other international students – € 1650 per semester.

Financial aid:

1. A) The citizens of EU/EEA and Switzerland are eligible for a monthly stipend beginning from the second semester. See eu
2. D) The Western Balkans citizens are welcome to apply for Erasmus Mundus/BASELEUS Project scholarship carrying full tuition waiver and monthly stipend, http://www.basileus.ugent.be/index.asp?p=111&a=111 .
3. E) Students from Turkey can receive financial aid within the Erasmus Student Exchange Program.
4. F) Financial aid for Chinese students is available within the bilateral Chinese-Bulgarian Cultural Agreement. Please contact the Chinese Ministry of Education for more information.
5. H) Erasmus + grants are available. Students from Russia (Financial aid for Russian students is available within the bilateral Russian-Bulgarian Cultural Agreement. Please contact the Russian Ministry of Education for more information), Ukraine, Belarus, and the other CIS countries, Indian Sub-Continent, Latin America, and the Middle East receive financial aid in the form of inexpensive dormitory accommodation (about 40 € per month including most of the utilities) plus a discount on public transportation and at the University cafeterias. The same type of financial aid is available for the citizens of EU/EEA and Switzerland, American citizens, Canadian nationals, Western Balkans citizens, students from Turkey, and Chinese students.

Application deadline: September 20th for fall semester admissions. It is strongly desirable the application procedure to start three months before the application deadline as the bachelor degree of the applicant needs to be officially recognized by Sofia University.

Student Visa Matters: The Sofia University in cooperation with the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science provides the necessary documents for student visa application to all eligible candidates outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland.

Cultural Life: Being the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia is a jolly city to live in. More information about Sofia and its cultural and recreational opportunities can be found at http://www.local-life.com/sofia

1. Teaching team-members:

 Associate Professor Rumyana Kolarova

Dr. Rumyana Kolarova is Associate Professor of Political Sciences. She is Head of the Political Science department at St. Kl. Ohridski University of Sofia, director of the “Diplomacy and Integration of EU” MA program. She specialized in London (London School of Economics and Political Science), New York (New School for Social Research) and Florence (European University Institute). She is author of more than 50 scientific publications and more than 300 publications in the periodic press. Chief of the Managing Council of the Center of Women’s Studies and Policies, member of the Managing Council of the Bulgarian Political Science Association.

Associate Professor Daniel Smilov

Dr. Daniel Smilov is Associate Professor of Political Sciences at St. Kl. Ohridski University of Sofia , Head of the Program “Politics and Policies of the EU". He is a comparative constitutional lawyer and political scientist. He is Programme Director at the Centre for Liberal Strategies, Sofia, Recurrent Visiting Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law at the Central European University, Budapest, and Assistant Professor of Political Theory at the Political Science Department, University of Sofia. He holds doctorates from the University of Oxford (DPhil, 2003) and the Central European University, Budapest (SJD, 1999, summa cum laude). In 2002-2003 he was Research Fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies, at the Central European University. In 2003-2004 he was Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute, Florence. He has also been a Visiting Scholar at the Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley in 1995. Dr. Smilov is co-author (with Martin Tisne) of From the Ground Up: Assessing the Record of Anticorruption Assistance in Southeast Europe, Central European University Press, 2004, co-editor (with Denis Galligan) of Administrative Law in Central and Eastern Europe, CEU Press, 1999, and co-editor (together with Jurij Toplak) of Political Finance and Corruption in Eastern Europe, Ashgate, 2007. He has published articles in ICON (International Journal of Constitutional Law, Oxford University Press), Public Law, and the Austrian Journal of Political Science (ÖZP), as well as a number of chapters in edited volumes.

This course will introduce the general and the specific features of the administrative systems and structures of the EU member states to the students and its major asset is the chance for them to carry out autonomous comparative research.

 Associate Professor Milena Stefanova

Dr. Milena Stefanova is a lecturer at Department of Public Administration at Sofia University. She graduated in Sociology at Sofia University, Doctor of Political Science. She has specialized European public administration in the Ireland and the Netherlands.  She is an author of 5 monographs and numerous articles in Bulgarian and foreign journals in the field of local government and public administration.

Assoc. Prof. K. Simeonov/Dr. G. Radoykova

The politics and policies of the EU are changing constantly depending on the decisions that are taken by the EU institutions. The course will explain, through interactive exercises includingly, the EU decision making process and how the EU policies are formulated.

Associate Professor Kaloyan Simeonov, Dr. Habil

Kaloyan Simeonov is Doctor Habilis in Political sciences and holds a PhD in Economics as well as master degrees in European Studies and International Economic Relations. He is Associate Professor on EU affairs and Head of the European Studies Department at the Sofia University. He is also a lecturer at the Diplomatic Institute in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria with previous teaching experience in the European Institute of Public Administration, the Bulgarian Institute of Public Administration, the Centre for European Programmes to the American University in Bulgaria and other universities and centers.

He has also around 20 years of practical experience in the EU affairs in the EU Departments at the Ministry of Finance, the administration of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Financial Supervision Commission. Simeonov has more than 80 publications in different fields of the EU affairs, including many books and two manuals for students as co-author. His research interests are in the areas of EU Polices, EU Internal Market, Economic and Monetary Union, Enlargement Process of the Western Balkans, etc.

He has also experience in EU funded projects and programmes in Bulgaria, Kosovo, the northern part of Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Macedonia, Montenegro, Azerbaijan, Algeria and others.

The EU enlargement can be postponed but cannot be avoided. Certainly, it needs improvement!

Professor Georgi Dimitrov

Georgi Dimitrov, Dr. Habil., is professor of sociology at the European Studies Department, “St. Kl. Ohridski” University of Sofia, being its foundation father. He was Senior Fulbrighter twice (2002-2003 at The University of Chicago; 2010 at The G. Washington University) with research projects on the history of American sociology. He teaches courses on European civilizing process, EU integration, Reform policy studies, and History (and Sociology) of sociology. He has a sound background in empirical research team leadership (more than 20 projects).  He was awarded the highest National Prize ‘Pythagoras’ in 2014 for Excellence in social sciences and humanities. He has been the guest-editor for South-East Europe, Brill, 3/2015 and Sociological Problems, BAS, 1/2017.

The course History of EU Enlargements will enhance students’ understanding of the current nature and mode of operation of EU.

Associate Professor Mirela Veleva-Eftimova

Doctor Mirela Veleva-Eftimova is an Associate Professor, European Studies Dept., Sofia University St Kliment Ohridsky, teaching courses: History of European Integration, History of Europe in 20^th century. She was Jean Monnet professor in History of EU Eastern Enlargement (2012-2015). She is author of the books History of European Integration, History of European Idea, History of Europe – XX century. She has specializations in Maastricht University (Nederland) and European University Institute (Italy). She is currently interested in the Bulgarian case of EU Eastern Enlargement and particularly – the impact of Russophilian tradition in this case.     

If you are interested why the EU Member States solve their problems in the same way and why they exchange ‘good practices’ with each other, participation in the course "European integration through public policies" is exactly for you.

Associate Professor Tatyana Tomova

Dr. Tatyana Tomova is an Associate Professor of public administration and public policy at Sofia University and Head of Public Administration Department. She graduated in Sociology. Her PhD thesis was in the field of comparative social policies. She specialized in the same topic at CEVIPOF and Institut d’Etude Politique (Paris, France). She has 20 years of experience in teaching Public and Social policies and Policy Making in the EU. She is an author of four monographs, two of which are dedicated to the social policy practices and the other two – to the methods of public policy making. She has a extensive experience as a consultant. She has worked for state and local authorities in Bulgaria. Her main competences are in the field of analysis and research of public and social policies with a focus on social security, labor relations, health, and ethnic groups.

If you wish to understand contemporary Europe, than this MA programme should be your choice. This particular course lets you discover the multifaceted role of the EU rotating presidency, the details of decision making process and the subtleties of diplomatic negotiations.

Professor Ingrid Shikova

The academic carrier of Professor Ingrid Shikova is dedicated to the European Studies. She is one of the founders of the European Studies Department at Sofia University. She has many publications in the field of European integration issues as well as broad teaching experience and specialisations at prestigious Universities in Europe. In 2009 she was awarded the honorary sign with blue ribbon of Sofia University for her contribution to the development of European Studies in Bulgaria.

Dear students in “Politics and policies of the EU” program, I am really excited that together with you we will have the chance to discuss one of the most important EU policy – the regional one.

Chief Assistant Professor Elena Kalfova

Dr. Elena Kalfova is Chief Assistant Professor in Public Administration Department of Sofia University. Regional policy is the core focus of her academic achievements. For more than twelve years she is training students in Regional Policy, Impact Assessment, Project management at local level, Local government. She has participated in more than 20 projects in the field of public governance.

Chief Assistant Professor Atanas Slavov

Dr. Atanas Slavov is a jurist and constitutional scholar, senior assistant professor at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridsky” (Public Administration Department). He holds Ph.D. in Constitutional Law from Sofia University (2009) and a second Ph.D. in Law from the University of Glasgow (2016). He has published extensively on public/ constitutional law and theory, direct democracy and civic participation, law and religion, political theology. Slavov served as an adviser on constitutional reform to the Minister of Justice (2014-2015) as well as an adviser on legislative issues to the Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of the Interior (2016). Prior to these, he has served as a state constitutional expert with the Council on Legislation Directorate with the Ministry of Justice, as well as a legal consultant with the NGO sector. Since 2010, Slavov has been a member of the Executive Board and the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Direct Democracy.

Negotiation in the EU is complex and contested, with organized interests playing an ever more central role in the decision-making. Who are they? What are their access points? What pressure strategies do they use? This course will help you learn more about lobbying in the EU institutions.

Adjunct Assistant Professor Linka Toneva 

Dr. Linka Toneva holds a PhD in EU Political Studies (2012) from the Department of European Studies at Sofia University. She has a MA degree from Lund University, Sweden (2006) and Bachelors in both Political Science and European Studies from Sofia University. In the past 10 years she has participated in research and advocacy projects for various non-governmental organizations in Bulgaria. Her research interests include public partnerships in EU policy-making, transparency/integrity standards, civic participation in reform processes, the functioning of the CVM in Bulgaria. She has published in international and Bulgarian journals and participated in academic conferences on topics related to post-communist transition, rule of law and civil society.

If you are interested in the latest aspects of the EU energy policy, the main achievements and challenges of its implementation, the course EU energy policy is exactly for you.

Assistant Professor Lyubima Andreeva

Dr. Lyubima Andreeva is an Assistant Professor at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. She works in the field of energy policy, including the EU energy policy, services of general economic interest, more specifically energy services, public policy, public governance (the regulatory state), administrative systems and development. 

The EU enlargement process will not be completed without accession to the EU of the countries from the Western Balkans. If the EU would like to preserve stability and economic prosperity at home – we shall have good and well-designed policies towards the numerous and diverse neighboring countries. Both EU policies are challenging today and the future of the EU depends to a large extent on their success.

Associate Professor Kaloyan Simeonov/ V. Ivanov

The essential CV details of Assoc. Prof. Kaloyan Simeonov are provided above.

Professor Anna Krasteva

Prof. Anna Krasteva, Dr. Habil., Doctor honoris causa of University Lille 3, France, Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques,  is the Director of CERMES, NBU, Editor-in-chief of the international Journal Southeastern Europe, (Brill) (2008 - ); Member of the Editorial Boar of the Journal Nationalism and Ethnic Politics (Routledge) (2000- ); Member of the editorial board of the Journal 欧洲评论 (Europeana); Member of the Board of AISLF; Member of the international scientific board of numerous other academic bodies. She has been a guest professor at Laval University, Quebec; University of Metz; Ecole normale superieure, Lyon; Institute for European studies, University, Paris; Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies, Nantes, France. She is internationally renowned expert on migration and refugee studies, on democracy and citizenship and has published vastly on these and many other political topics. Her major works are  From migration to mobility : policies and roads(2014); Krasteva A. et Vasilcu Despina (eds) Migrations en blanc. Médecins d’est en ouest. (2014); Brown Elinor and Anna Krasteva (eds) Migrants and refugees. Equitable education for displaced populations (2013); Krasteva A., A.Kasabova, D. Karabonova (eds) Migrations from and to Southeastern Europe. Ravenna: Longo Editore, (2010);Krasteva A. (ed) Immigration and integration: European experiences. Sofia: Manfred Worner Foundation, 2008.

The course offers a researcher’s view on the most dynamic and topical EU’s policy of decisive importance for the European integration process and for the restoration of European citizens’ confidence in the internal and external security of the EU. These are challenges that any young researcher of the European integration should be tempted by.

Adjunct Assistant Professor Borislav Mavrov

Dr. Borislav Mavrov  works as an adjunct lecturer at the Department of “Public Administration” at Sofia University and he is also part of the team of the Jean-Monnet Center of Excellence at the Department of European Studies,  Sofia University. His research interests are in the field of International Relations and Foreign Policy, European Integration and Enlargement, etc.  Dr. Mavrov is Programme Director of the European Institute in Sofia and has actively participated both as a team leader and a senior researcher in many international scientific and networking projects at EU level, as well as in the Balkans and in the Black Sea region.

Welcome to our program and prepare for an exciting journey in the universe of public administration!

Professor Alexander Marinov

Alexander Marinov is Professor in Public Administration, PhD in sociology. Main fields of study: administrative development and administrative reforms; performance management; senior civil services; politics-public administration relationship.
 

My current research is focused on improved methods for measuring political risk connected to criminal markets, organized crime and high-profile political corruption.

Together we will embark on an adventure in the world of organized crime.

Dr. Stoycho Stoev Stoychev

Doctor Stoycho Stoychev is Chief Assistant Professor at the Political Science Department of Sofia University, where he teaches courses in political risk analysis, quantitative political analysis and statistics, comparative political economy and international political economy. In recent years he has participated in various research projects assessing institutional policymaking capacity and development at the national and international level. His most important works are  'Political Risk in Europe: A Quantitative Index Based on Measures of Corruption, Market Distortion, and the Shadow Economy', Journal of Political Risk (2013)1(5); (2012) ‘The National Assembly as a policy maker in the fight against organized crime and corruption’, Public Policies 3(2); ‘Europeanization and Destabilization of the Bulgarian Party System: Effects on the Professionalization of the Representative Elite', in Challenges to Bulgaria after EU Accession, (2010); Organized Crime and the Balkan Political Context (ed.), (2010).