This major allows students to obtain a better understanding of the multi-faceted policies of the European Union towards the countries in the EU’s neigbourhoods (East, South and Southeast). It also provides them with an opportunity to capture the political, socio-political, socio-economic, legal, energy- and identity related developments in the neighbourhood itself.

The major draws on EU studies, EU foreign policy analysis, peace and conflict studies to achieve its goals. Students further deepen their knowledge of the broader historical context by taking a course in the European History and Civilization Major.

The second semester study trip is an integral part of the academic programme, participation is obligatory and students are expected to attend all related conferences and activities. It counts for 2 ECTS.

Students must take five courses from the list of core and specialist courses. The following rules apply:
1) Students need to select one or two courses from the list of core courses within their chosen major.
2) Students of the EPAP, EUW and EUN majors need to select one or two courses from the list of core courses and/or specialist courses of the EHC major.\

The programme below corresponds to the 2025–2026 academic year curriculum.

Core courses

• LANNON, E. – The EU and its Southern Neighbourhoods (20h, 4 ECTS)
• ŁAZOWSKI, A. – Enlargement Policy of the European Union (20h, 4 ECTS)
• SCHUMACHER, T. – Whither Neighbourhood? The EU, Eastern Europe, and the Southern Mediterranean in Times of Peace and War (20h, 4
• WOLCZUK, K. – The EU and Eastern Europe (20h, 4 ECTS)

Specialist courses

• AYDIN, M. – Turkey Between Europe and Eurasia: Historical and Contemporary Evaluation (20h, 4 ECTS)
• BUZOGANY, A. – EU Energy Governance in the EU’s Neighbourhood (20h, 4 ECTS)
• CASSARINO, J.-P. & DAVITTI, D. – Cooperation on Migration Governance between the EU and its Neighbourhood (20h, 4 ECTS)
• CASTELLINO, J. & CAVANAUGH, K. – Minority Issues, Nationalism and Identity Politics in the EU’s Neighbourhood (20h, 4 ECTS)
• DEMMELHUBER, T. – Autocratization in the Middle East and North Africa (20h, 4 ECTS)
• HILLION, C. – The EU’s Relation(s) with a Wider Europe – The Legal Dimension (20h, 4 ECTS)
• KALENSKÝ, J. – The EU and the Geopolitics of Disinformation and Digital Communication in the Neighbourhood and Russia (20h, 4 EC
• LANOSZKA, A. – War and Conflict in the Post-Soviet Space (20h, 4 ECTS)
• MAYR-HARTING, T. – The European Union and Bi- and Multilateral Diplomacy (20h, 4 ECTS)
• ONUCH, O. – Revolutions and Mass Mobilization in Eastern Europe (20h, 4 ECTS)
• ROUSSELET, K. & SHEIKH, N. – Church-State Relations and the Role of Religious Movements in the EU’s Neighbourhood / Les relations Eglises-Etat et le rôle des mouvements religieux dans les pays voisins de l’Union européenne (20h, 4 ECTS)
• TEOKAREVIC, J. – Western Balkans: EU Enlargement, External Influences, Post-Conflict Transition (20h, 4 ECTS)
• TYUSHKA, A. – The EU, Russia and the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood: Power, Performance, and Perceptions (20h, 4 ECTS)

Master’s thesis colloquium

Students are automatically registered in the major's research colloquium.

• ŁAZOWSKI, A., WOLCZUK, K., TYUSHKA, A., HAMMAMI A. – The EU in the Wider Europe and its Neighbours Research Colloquium

Compact seminars

Students must select two compact seminars.

• AL-SABBAGH, R. – Investigative Journalism in the Southern Neighbourhood (8h, 0 ECTS)
• BOURIS, D. – EU-Middle East Relations: Conflict, Peace and Security (10h, 0 ECTS)
• BUSCHLE, D. – The Energy and Climate Transition in the European Union’s Neighbourhood – A Policy Lab on Eastern Europe and the W
• CHABAN, N. – External Perceptions of the EU and EU Public Diplomacy: Views from the EU’s Neighbourhoods and around the World (10
• FRANZA, L. – Energy Security and Conflict in the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood (10h, 0 ECTS)
• ISAACS, R. – Central Asia as the EU's Wider Neighbourhood: Power, Politics, and Foreign Policy (10h, 0 ECTS)
• SHAGINA, M. – Sanctions and Economic Statecraft (10h, 0 ECTS)

Simulation games

Participation in the simulation games is optional.

• BUTTERWICK-PAWLIKOWSKI, R. – The Congress of Vienna 1814-15 (8h, 0 ECTS)
• FRANZA, L – Energy and Climate in the Neighbourhood (8h, 0 ECTS)

Cooperation with external partners

Students can choose any number of the following elements.

• MIKOS-SKUZA, E. – Introduction to International Humanitarian Law (17h, 0 ECTS)
• Cycle of seminars with the European Investment Bank on energy and climate transition (7,5h, 0 ECTS)
• Workshops in history organized in cooperation with the Max Weber programme of the European University Institute (TBC, 0 ECTS)

Professional development

The Skills and Capacity Building offer complements the academic programme with on-site, made-to-measure support and guidance in helping to shape the students’ professional paths.

Language courses

In addition to benefitting from a bilingual study programme, students can take advantage of language courses on offer implemented by the Languages and Intercultural Dialogue Office. The following languages are on offer: English, French, Italian, German, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic. The courses are tailored to the individual students' needs, and are also focused on transversal skills required by employers.