2025/2026
Doing Business in the European Union
Type:
Mago-Lego
Delivered by:
School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Where:
School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
When:
1 module
Open to:
students of one campus
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
6
Contact hours:
32
Course Syllabus
Abstract
Big and small companies enter external markets extensively using direct and portfolio investments and taking control of foreign enterprises. They establish subsidiaries around the globe and acquire assets in different locations. The EU market remains among the most popular markets for foreign capital investments. The climate for such activities is in a constant change: the change in the EU legislation and policies, multiplication of regional and mega-regional trade agreements, trade wars, economic sanctions, pandemic and environmental concerns, sustainable development priorities. Each time, companies have to take into account new challenges of doing business in the EU. These factors define the logic of this course. It includes theoretical framework and real case studies regarding entry strategies of foreign companies in to the European markets.
Most of the courses on the EU business activities are either completely legal based, or cover mostly trade issues. This course is a combination of legal aspects of doing business in the EU, providing an economic rationale of being present in the area. It is a mix of legal, trade and economic knowledge. It could be of use to the top management of companies forming the entry-market strategies, choosing among different foreign markets.
Learning Objectives
- The major course objective will be to explain the way economic interests of foreign companies should be protected, based upon the knowledge of economic and legislative frameworks for doing business in the EU.
- to provide an overview of the EU legislation and economic regulation mechanisms
- to analyze relations between the EU and its trade and investment partners
- to create systematized vision of the EU business environment
- to upgrade management knowledge and skills for the companies’ major interest’s protection on foreign markets
- to develop initial skills for shaping external economic policies towards the EU that can be relevant regarding the entry-market strategies for other regional blocs
Expected Learning Outcomes
- To learn the economic and legal environment for foreign companies doing business in the EU
- To know peculiarities of the EU competition law and monitoring of competition law compliance
- To gain knowledge of combination of interests of small and big businesses, of domestic and external tasks in the EU policy as well as policy against shadow economy/offshores; cases against violation of competition law
- To gain knowledge about business environment for the regional real estate markets, market conditions for foreign companies entering markets of trade blocs
- To learn about current problems that foreign enterprises are facing in the EU
- To be able to use and analyze statistical and economic data and academic knowledge
- To be able to use references, yearbooks and professional literature on the given topic
- To critically evaluate analytical and scientific materials on the given issues and find options for possible solutions related to entry of foreign companies in to the European market
Course Contents
- The basics of the EU business environment: integration pillars, institutional structure, supremacy of the EU law, supranational authority
- Economics of the EU market. Legal environment for doing business in the EU
- Peculiarities of EU Anti-trust law and Competition policy
- Other EU policy areas of concern to investors (single market, trade policy and trade agreements, ecology, Energy Union, R&D, single patent, digital market, finance, public procurement, SME incentives, transport and access to infrastructure)
- Infringement of the EU legislation. European Commission against companies’ cases
- Offshore jurisdictions and the EU
- Real estate in the EU. Real estate projects in real terms
Assessment Elements
- Participation in the discussions and in-class responses, online and offline
- An in-class taskAn in-class 10 slides Presentation on the chosen topic, or alternatively, an essay of 2-3 pages, or alternatively, – a home assignment for a chosen real estate project of 3-4 pages
Interim Assessment
- 2025/2026 1st module0.7 * An in-class task + 0.3 * Participation in the discussions and in-class responses, online and offline
