Midterm Business in the European Union
Countries that signed onto the Schuman Declaration
- Belgium - France - Luxembourg - Italy - The Netherlands - Germany
Konrad Adenauer
- Chancellor of Germany 1949 - 1963 - Cornerstone of Adenauer's foreign policy was the reconciliation with France - Realized far-reaching foreign policy goals to bind Germany within the western alliance a) Membership of the Council of Europe (1951) b) Foundation of the European Coal and Steel Community (1952) c) Germany's entry into NATO (1955)
Achievement of The Nice Treaty (2003)
- Changed the number of votes in Council of the EU - Pushed by Poland and Spain
Court of Auditors
- Checks the EU funds are used properly - Control of revenues and expenditures of the EU - Checks the financing of the Union's activities - Consists of 27 independent members - Can audit any person or organization dealing with EU funds - Located in Luxembourg
Powers of the European Parliament
- Control, consultation and decision legal acts - Pass EU laws jointly with the Council of Ministers - Parliament exercises democratic supervision over the other EU institutions, and in particular the Commission - Has the power to approve or reject the nomination of commissioners, and it has the right to censure the Commission as a whole - The power of the purse
The President of the European Council (Lisbon Treaty)
- Created by the Lisbon Treaty - A new permanent post - He or she is appointed by the European Council for a two and a half year period
European Commission (Lisbon Treaty)
- Created by the Lisbon Treaty - Offers the opportunity to keep one Commissioner from each Member State in the Commission.
Citizens' Initiative
- Created by the Lisbon Treaty - Provides a stronger voice for citizens - One million citizens from a number of Member States have the possibility to call on the Commission to bring forward new policy proposals - Signatures must come from at least 7 out of the 27 member states
Customs Union
- Created in 1968 - Established a single trading area where all goods circulate freely, whether made within the EU or imported from outside - Has been one of the EU's earliest success stories
How did the Lisbon Treaty make the EU more transparent?
- Defined who did what with the relationship between the Member States and the European Union become clearer with the categorization of competences - Recognized the possibility for a Member State to withdraw from the Union
Democratic Values from the Lisbon Treaty
- Details and reinforces the values and objectives on which the Union is built - These values aim to serve as a reference point for European citizens and to demonstrate what Europe has to offer its partners worldwide
Robert Schuman
- Drew up the Schuman plan with Jean Monnet (considered the birth of the European Union) - Proposed joint control of coal and steel production, the most important materials for the armaments industry
EU Stage 5 of Economic Integration
- Economic and Monetary Union - Economic union plus a common monetary policy; from 2001 - Establishment of the Euro - The Maastricht Treaty (Treaty on the European Union, TEU)
EU Stage 2 of Economic Integration
- Established Customs Union - A free trade area with a common external tariff; from 1968 - No treaty needed - An example of Europe integration at it's finest --> we need so we will build it without need for big treaty
EU Stage 4 of Economic Integration
- Established Economic Union - A common market with harmonization of macroeconomic (and social) policies; from 1999 - The Maastricht Treaty (Treaty on the European Union, TEU)
EU Stage 3 of Economic Integration
- Established Single/Common Market - Accomplished through Single European Act (SEA); from 1993 - Established 4 fundamental freedoms
Significance of The Single European Act
- Establishes the Free Trade Area (FTA) in member states - Lays the foundation of the modern European economy - Start of the cooperation among member states on topics of foreign/security policy - Set up the Four Fundamental Freedoms
EU Stage 1 of Economic Integration
- Establishment of Free Trade Area - Occurs in 1958 through the 1st Rome Treaty - Establishes the European Economic Community (EEC)
Significance of The Rome Treaties
- Expanded The Treaty of Paris - Groundbreaking as it starts the path towards free trade era of Europe --> never been done before
What happened after the signing of the Founding Treaties?
- Extreme economic growth in member countries - High GDP growth, more jobs than people to work, high birth rates, etc.
Importance of the Customs Union
- Foundation of the European Union and an essential element in the functioning of the single market - Customs authorities implement EU policies in almost every field connected with international trade a) They are in the front line in the fight against fraud, terrorism and organized crime
Acquis Communautaire
- French term meaning, essentially, "the EU as it is" - "Accepting the acquis" therefore means taking the EU as you find it. - Candidate countries have to accept the "acquis" before they can join the EU, and make EU law part of their own national legislation.
European Central Bank
- Goal is to maintain monetary stability - Located in Frankfurt Germany
Alcide de Gasperi
- Italian Prime Minister from 1945 - 1953 - Promoted initiatives for the fusion of Western Europe, working on the realization of the Marshall Plan and creating close economic ties with other European countries, in particular France - Supported the Schumann Plan for the foundation of the European Coal and Steel Community - Helped develop the idea of the common European defense policy
Structure of the European Council
- Made up of the heads of state or government of the member states, together with its President & the President of the Commission - Meets twice every six months after being convened by its President - Can be more often if the President of the European Council believes it is necessary
The Treaty on the EU Constitution (2004)
- Never entered into force - The French and the Dutch voters rejected it in referendums held in 2005
How did the Lisbon Treaty lead to greater involvement of national parliaments?
- New mechanism to monitor that the Union only acts where results can be better attained at EU level (subsidiarity principle) - Together with the strengthened role for the European Parliament, it enhances democracy and increase legitimacy in the functioning of the Union
Power of the Council (of Ministers or of the EU)
- Pass European laws jointly with the European Parliament - Approve the EU's budget, jointly with the European Parliament - Develop the EU's Common Foreign & Security Policy based on the guidelines set by the European Council - Coordinate the broad economic policies of the member states - Conclude international agreements between the EU and other countries or international organizations - Coordinate cooperation between the national courts and police forces in criminal matters
Citizens' Rights and Charter of Fundamental Rights from the Lisbon Treaty
- Preserves existing rights while introducing new ones - In particular, it guarantees the freedoms and principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and gives its provisions a binding legal force - It concerns civil, political, economic and social rights
How did the Lisbon Treaty strengthen the role of the European Parliament?
- Provided with important new powers regarding EU legislation, the EU budget, and international agreements - In particular, the increase of co-decision procedure in policy-making (agriculture, budget, etc.) ensures that the European Parliament is placed on an equal footing with the Council, representing Member States, for the vast bulk of EU legislation
Structure of the European Parliament
- Represents the EU's citizens and is directly elected by them - Created by the Lisbon Treaty - 705 Members (plus the president of the parliament) - Each countries number of seats are decided based on that countries population (same as US House) - No country can have less than 6 or more than 96 - Elections held every 5 years - Chamber in Strasburg and Brussels - Currently 7 Euro-wide political groups
Structure of the Council (of Ministers or of the EU)
- Represents the individual member states - Its meetings are attended by one minister from each of the EU's national governments - Which minister attends which meeting depends on what subjects are on the agenda - The Presidency of the Council of the EU is held by each of the 27 Member States in turn for a period of six months
Structure of the European Commission (Known as the Commission)
- Seeks to uphold the interests of the Union as a whole - 27 Members (one from each member state) + President of the Commission + Vice President of the Commission - New commission is appointed every 5 years within 6 months of the election of the new parliament - Located in Brussels with offices in Luxemburg
Power of the European Commission
- Seeks to uphold the interests of the Union as a whole - Issues proposals for legal acts to the Council and the Parliament - To manage and implement EU policies and the budget (executive arm of the EU) - Enforces EU laws (jointly with the Court of Justice) - Represent the European Union on the international stage - Works with Citizens United
The Treaty of Paris (1952)
- Signed in 1951 - Establishes the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) for the period of 50 years, thus it expired in 2002
The Rome Treaties (1958)
- Signed in 1957 - Establishes the European Economic Community (EEC) - Establishes the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom)
The Merger Treaty (1967)
- Signed in 1965 - Merges the executives (the separate councils of ministers and commissions) of the three Communities (ECSC, EEC, Euratom) - Streamlines the decision making process among the EC member states
The Single European Act (SEA) (1987)
- Signed in 1986 - Set the goal to complete all requirements for the single market by midnight December 31, 1992
The Maastricht Treaty (1993)
- Signed in 1992 - Introduces the term 'European Union' - Creates the Three Pillar Structure - Introduces the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU and its MS - Codifies co-operation in Justice and Home Affairs - Lays the foundations for the creation of Europol - A timetable was agreed for the creation of a single European currency by January 1999
The Amsterdam Treaty (1999)
- Signed in 1996 - Failed to build off the success of the Maastricht Treaty
The Nice Treaty (2003)
- Signed in 2001 - Goal was to make the institutional changes needed to prepare the EU for the eastward enlargement, and to make the EU more democratic and transparent - Actual changes it introduced were superficial
The Lisbon Treaty (2009)
- Signed in 2007 - Amends the current EU and EC treaties, without replacing them - Provides the Union with the legal framework and tools necessary to meet future challenges and to respond to citizens' demands - 2008 rejected by the Irish voters but later entered into force in 2009
Meaning of the principle of individual legal protection
- Since individuals are considered subjects of EU law, they have the right of individual legal protection (the principle of individual legal protection) - Therefore the European Court of Justice will consider cases/legal disputes that involve not only the EU member states, the EU institutions, businesses, but also individuals
What does the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights do?
- The Charter sets out a series of individual rights and freedoms - It entrenches all the rights found in the case law of the Court of Justice of the EU
Exclusive Competences
- The EU alone is able to legislate and adopt binding acts pertaining to: a) Customs Union: the establishing of competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market b) Monetary Policy for euro-area countries - The Member States' role is therefore limited to applying these acts, unless the Union authorizes them to adopt certain acts themselves
Shared Competences
- The EU and its Member States may adopt legally binding acts in the areas concerned including environment, agriculture, etc. - However, Member States may exercise their competence only in so far as the EU has not exercised, or has decided not to exercise, its own competence
Supporting Competences
- The EU can only intervene to support, coordinate, or complement the action of Member States in areas like education, tourism, culture, etc. - Consequently, it has no legislative power in these fields and may not interfere in the exercise of these competences reserved for Member States
Purpose of the European Council
- The European Council defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union - It does not exercise legislative functions
Jean Monnet
- The French economic advisor and politician dedicated himself to the cause of European integration - Was the inspiration behind the "Schuman Plan", which foresaw the merger of West European heavy industry - Helped lead to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community - Between 1952-55 he was the first president of the European Coal and Steel Community executive body.
Increased Security for All from the Lisbon Treaty
- The Union gets an extended capacity to act on freedom, security and justice, which brings direct benefits in terms of the Union's ability to fight crime and terrorism - New provisions on civil protection, humanitarian aid and public health also aim at boosting the Union's ability to respond to threats to the security of European citizens
European Court of Justice
- Upholds the rule of European law to make sure it is implemented evenly throughout the EU - 27 independent judges, one from each EU country - Rules on how to interpret the EU law
How did the Lisbon Treaty lead to a more democratic and transparent Europe?
1. A strengthened role for the European Parliament 2. A greater involvement of national parliaments 3. A stronger voice for citizens
The 3 Strategic Objectives of the Custom's Union Include
1. Collection of budgetary resources 2. Provision of a framework for international trade 3. Protection of society against unfair, illegal or dangerous international trade
The Decision-Making Process/Co-Decision Procedure of the European Union
1. Commission makes proposal 2. Parliament and Council adopt proposal 3. Commission implements and makes sure laws are properly implemented
Achievements of the Amsterdam Treaty
1. Develops policies on asylum, visas, external border controls, immigration, employment, social policy, health protection, consumer protection, and the environment 2. Strengthens cooperation between national police forces (and the work of Europol) 3. Improves the provisions concerning EU foreign policy
List of EU Fundamental Rights
1. Dignity 2. Freedoms 3. Equality 4. Solidarity 5. Citizens' Rights 6. Justice
The Main Institutional Changes Introduced by the Lisbon Treaty
1. European Commission 2. The European Parliament 3. The President of the European Council 4. High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy 5. A New European External Action Service 6. European Central Bank becomes an official EU institution
Three Pillars of the European Union
1. European Community (economic) 2. Common Foreign and Security Policy 3. Justice and Home Affairs
Inter-Governmental EU Institutions
1. European Council 2. Council of Ministers (most inter-governmental)
European Union Bodies that advise on EU law
1. European Economic and Social Committee 2. European Committee of the Region
Super-National EU Institutions (More Europe/One European System)
1. European Parliament 2. European Commission (most super-national) 3. European Court of Justice 4. Court of Auditors 5. European Central Bank
Treaty of Lisbon the Union's 7 Institutions
1. European Parliament 2. European Council 3. European Commission (hereinafter referred to as 'the Commission') 4. The Council (of Ministers or of the EU) 5. European Court of Justice 6. Court of Auditors 7. European Central Bank
The 3 Main Types of Competence According to the Lisbon Treaty
1. Exclusive Competences 2. Shared Competences 3. Supporting Competences
The Major Changes the Lisbon Treaty Introduces
1. Institutional changes 2. Introduction of the single legal personality of the European Union 3. New role for the national parliaments 4. Citizen's initiative 5. Other
What the Treaty on the EU Constitution would have done?
1. Introduced legal personality of the EU 2. Elected president of the European Council 3. A foreign minister for the EU, and other important provisions
Founding Fathers of the EU
1. Konrad Adenauer 2. Robert Schuman 3. Winston Churchill 4. Alicide de Gasperi 5. Jean Monnet
The Treaty of Lisbon makes the EU?
1. More Democratic 2. More Efficient 3. More Transparent 4. More Secure 5. More United on the World Stage
Rationale Behind the Lisbon Treaty
1. More efficiency in the decision-making process 2. More democracy through a greater role for the European Parliament and national parliaments 3. Increased coherence externally to address common challenges (climate change, energy security, international terrorism)
Principles of the EU Legal Order
1. Primacy of EU law over national law, i.e. over domestic law of the member states 2. Subjects of EU law are the EU member-states, legal persons, e.g. companies, as well as the individuals 3. The principle of individual legal protection
Customs Union & Business
1. Reduction of transaction costs, through removed barriers to intra-EU trade 2. Stimuli for intra-regional & intra-EU trade 3. Trade creation and trade diversion effects 4. Increased competition, efficiency gains, innovativeness and innovation, prices, clustering, benefits for consumers 5. Reduction of monopoly power 6. Economies of scale effects 7. Learning effects (clusters)
The 2 Basic Features of the Customs Union Include
1. Tariffs and quotas on goods* are removed for all intra-EU trade 2. Common external tariff (CET/CCT) and quota system for all extra-EU trade
New Beginning Treaties
1. The Nice Treaty 2. The Treaty on the EU Constitution 3. The Lisbon Treaty
The Basic Principles Governing the Exercise of Powers by the EU
1. The Principle of Conferral 2. The Principle of Proportionality 3. The Principle of Subsidiarity
Revival Treaties
1. The Single European Act 2. The Maastricht Act 3. The Amsterdam Treaty
Founding Treaties
1. The Treaty of Paris 2. The Rome Treaties 3. The Merger Treaty
How many Council of Minister configurations are there?
9 different Council configurations
Side Effect of Rome Treaties
Belgium and France emerge as large European nuclear energy producers
Who can bring cases to the European Court of Justice?
Cases can be brought to the court by individuals, governments, and businesses
Reasoning behind the Schuman Declaration (1950)
Coal and steel are the resources of war and pooling them creates a system of checks and balances
Purpose of the Three Pillar Structure created by The Maastricht Treaty (1993)
Depicts the division of competences and powers between the Communities (ECSC, EEC, Euratom) and the Member States
The Principle of Subsidiarity
For shared competences, the EU may intervene only if it is capable of acting more effectively than the Member States
Four Fundamental Freedoms
Free Movement of 1. People/Labor 2. Goods 3. Services 4. Capital
Example of Supporting Powers
In areas like culture, education, and industry, the Union may only support action by the member states (by providing funding, for example)
Example of Exclusive Powers
In fields like the customs union, the common trade policy and competition, only the Union may legislate
Example of Shared Powers
In other fields, like the environment, transport, and consumer protection, the Union and the member states share lawmaking power, not forgetting subsidiarity
Common issues occurring with the European Court of Justice
Issues often occur because lawyers and judges are often trained in their countries law but not EU law
Example of powers of the European Commission
Negotiating agreements between the EU and other countries
Examples of cases brought to the European Court of Justice
Past cases include border disputes, how countries treat foreign nationals, and wars
Freedom of European Citizens from the Lisbon Treaty
Preserves and reinforces the "four freedoms" and the political, economic and social freedom of European citizens
Purpose of the President of the European Council (Lisbon Treaty)
Provides greater continuity and stability to the work of the European Council
Solidarity Between Member States from the Lisbon Treaty
Provides that the Union and its Member States act jointly in a spirit of solidarity if a Member State is the subject of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster
The Schuman Declaration (1950)
Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Minister, proposes that France and Germany (and any other European country wishing to join them) pool their Coal and Steel resources (Europe Day)
EU Stages of Economic Integration according to Balassa
Stage 1: Free Trade Area (1958 - Rome Treaties) Stage 2: Customs Union (1968 - No Treaty) Stage 3: Common/Single Market (1987 - Single European Act) Stage 4: Economic Union through Common Market (1993 - Maastricht Treaty) Stage 5: Economic & Monetary Union (1993 - Maastricht Treaty)
How did the Lisbon Treaty provide a stronger voice for citizens?
Thanks to the Citizens' Initiative, one million citizens from a number of Member States have the possibility to call on the Commission to bring forward new policy proposals
The Principle of Conferral
The Union has only the competences conferred upon it by the Treaties
The Principle of Proportionality
The exercise of EU competences may not exceed what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaties