European Politics
When were the first direct elections for the European Parliament?
- 1979: New, directly elected European Parliament created, and European Monetary System based on ECU (European Currency Unit) to help with accounting, budgeting, and stable exchange rate
Who is Jean Monnet?
French political economist and diplomat. He is regarded by many as a chief architect of European unity[1] and one of the founding fathers of the European Union.
which policies are still controlled almost exclusively by member states
- education (but efforts at Euro-wide coordination of credits, etc.) - welfare state programs in all their aspects (health, pensions, unemployment benefits, family benefits, disability, etc.) - taxes and national budgets (some tax money goes to EU budget) - enactment and enforcement of criminal law - foreign policy and national defense - but changing (see Ukraine)
How EU first formed
- idea of European integration goes back centuries - latest version is a response to WWI and WWII, capitalist development, and geo-political pressures (Cold War); developed with support of US. - developed through a complex series of treaties, not a democratically- constituted "constitutional convention" ("democratic deficit"?) - has resulted in a confusing hodgepodge of institutions that reflect differing goals and incremental additions over time
the appointment and call for the dismissal of the Commission as a whole
- low turnouts in elections, low level of public interest. Voters often use EP elections to protest about ruling national parties. So, would giving it more power really be more democratic?
When did the United Kingdom join what is now called the EU?
1973
"Qualified majority voting"
1986: Single European Act (merged into Treaty of Rome) signed by Euro Council advocated fully integrated regional market and created "qualified majority voting" in decisions of Council of Ministers. Fr, Ger, Italy, UK all get 10 votes; Spain, 8; and on down to Lux, with 2. Meant that majority-vote decisions will require coalitions of small and large countries. Also increased power of European Parliament over accession, proposed legislation.
How many member states are currently in the EU?
28
why a large number of British citizens are discontented with Britain's membership in the European Union, and are willing to contemplate a British exit from the union.
65% of laws in UK originate not in Westminster, but in EU. Concerns about increased regulation, decline in power of Parliament, and lack of control over immigration from other EU countries (Romania and Bulgaria most recently). Continued issue of "democratic deficit." EP districts are huge (multi- member), it's easy for UK MEPs to be outvoted, and EP still can't initiate legislation (but UK would be outvoted anyway). Thus, governance by Brussels feels like governance by foreigners from another country (for a lot of Britons).
How members of EU Parliament are elected
An assembly of 754 members (MEPs) distributed among the member states based roughly on population. Elected by the voters of the member states via proportional representation.
European Parliament
An assembly of 754 members (MEPs) distributed among the member states based roughly on population. Elected by the voters of the member states via proportional representation. - Meets in both Strasbourg (FR) (for plenary sessions) and Brussels (Belgium) (for mainly committee work). Although MEPs are elected on a national basis, they sit according to "political groups" rather than their member states. Some MEPs also serve as members of national parliaments at the same time (yes, this means they are not doing much work in the EU). - approves budget; can use "co-decision" power to block or amend legislation from the Council or Commission, but cannot initiate legislation - does review legislative proposals in committees, and can vote down or propose amendments. - approves EU Commission appointments (essentially approving the "Cabinet" of the EU), but only as a group (not individually). Approves appointment of EU Commission president. But cannot nominate its own candidates. Can censure Commission and force resignation. - Not the center of power in EU policymaking (as it would be in a real parliamentary system). Directly elected by EU voters every 5 years, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) represent the people. Parliament is one of the EU's main law-making institutions, along with the Council of the European Union ('the Council'). 1. debating and passing European laws, with the Council scrutinising other EU institutions, particularly the Commission, 2. to make sure they are working democratically 3. debating and adopting the EU's budget, with the Council.
What does C.A.P. stand for?
Common Agricultural Policy
the Council of the European Union
Composed of individuals who are cabinet ministers in the governments of member states. Note this strange feature: meets in different configurations (ten sub-councils) based on the relevant issues (i.e, different groups of ministers depending on issues). The exact membership of the configuration depends upon the topic; for example, when discussing agricultural policy the Council is formed by the 28 national ministers whose responsibility includes this policy area (with the related European Commissioner contributing but not voting). Passes EU laws. Coordinates the broad economic policies of EU member countries. Signs agreements between the EU and other countries. Approves the annual EU budget Develops the EU's foreign and defence policies. Coordinates cooperation between courts and police forces of member countries.
European Council
Consists of the heads of government for the 28 member states, plus the council president and the president of the European Commission. More like a "summit" of top leaders. Convenes four times a year (+ special summits). Typically initiates and oversees major changes (like adoption of Euro), including proposal and approval of new treaties and admission of member states (which also requires approval by EU Parliament). Provides guidance to the Commission and Council of Ministers. In some ways, a big PR and consultation exercise every three months; can bog down into "pork barrel"-like conflicts over location of EU offices, etc. But: Places elected national leaders on the top of the organization chart. Its role is twofold - setting the EU's general political direction and priorities, and dealing with complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at a lower level of intergovernmental cooperation. Though influential in setting the EU political agenda, it has no powers to pass laws.
Which term is used to describe the tendency of the EU to have developed without very strong democratic institutions to support it?
Democratic Defecit
The law of the EU is judged in which court?
European Court of Justice
What term describes people who are suspicious of extending the powers of the EU?
Euroskepticism
views of UK parties about EU
Labour left was originally suspicious of EU project, seeing it as a way to build a big neo-liberal free trade zone for corporations, and weakening labor union power in less competitive industries. But, over time, has become more friendly as EU laws/regulations are often seen as more progressive than UK equivalent. Conservatives were and remain deeply divided. Seems good for big business and capitalism, and promotes free trade. But also seems expensive, highly bureaucratic, wasteful, dictatorial, very regulatory and intrusive into business, and potentially kind of left-wing. Also, culturally liberal, and demanding of open borders (to other EU members). Threatening to traditional conception of the British nation. Rise of UKIP has encouraged Tory leadership to challenge the EU even more.
Where was the Treaty which changed the EEC into the EU signed in 1991?
Maastricht
Where does the European Parliament regularly meet?
Meets in both Strasbourg (FR) (for plenary sessions) and Brussels (Belgium) (for mainly committee work).
European Central Bank
formed in 2002; responsible for monetary policy and for issuing currency; run by a governing council that consists of a 6-member executive board and the governors of the central banks of 16 member countries that have adopted the euro; represents a unique experiment allowing a multinational organization to control the domestic monetary policies of independent countries
main policy areas in which the European Union operates.
free trade within EU, external trade and common commercial policy (CCP), regional policy and cohesion, common agricultural policy, common fisheries policy, economic and monetary union
Where does the European Commission have its offices?
brussels
the European Court of Justice
created in 1951. Composed of 28 judges, appointed by each member state, for six-year renewable terms. Duty to interpret and apply EU law. The Court of Justice has one judge per EU country. The Court is helped by nine 'advocates-general' whose job is to present opinions on the cases brought before the Court. They must do so publicly and impartially. Each judge and advocate-general is appointed for a term of six years, which can be renewed. The governments of EU countries agree on whom they want to appoint. To help the Court of Justice cope with the large number of cases brought before it, and to offer citizens better legal protection, a 'General Court' deals with cases brought forward by private individuals, companies and some organisations, and cases relating to competition law. The 'EU Civil Service Tribunal' rules on disputes between the European Union and its staff.
Role of Greece in ongoing Euro crisis
during 2000s the Greek government ran large fiscal deficits, and borrowed at very low interest rates.
What word describes the way the EU has grown?
extension
Why was the Schengen Agreement developed?
led to the creation of Europe's borderless Schengen Area
How members of the European Commission are appointed.
proposed by the member states
the European Commission
proposing new laws to Parliament and the Council managing the EU's budget and allocating funding enforcing EU law (together with the Court of Justice) representing the EU internationally, for example, by negotiating agreements between the EU and other countries. The 28 Commissioners, one from each EU country,
UK Independence Party
right-wing political party in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1993 by members of the Anti-Federalist League with the primary objective of securing the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.
How parties work in the European Parliament.
same party members sit together instead of with their country nationals
What happens if there is a conflict between EU law and national law?
taken to the European Court of Justice
How the legislative process works (in basic terms)
the European Parliament, which represents the EU's citizens and is directly elected by them; the Council of the European Union, which represents the governments of the individual member countries. The Presidency of the Council is shared by the member states on a rotating basis. the European Commission, which represents the interests of the Union as a whole.
The Treaty of Lisbon
treaty signed in 2007 that made the European Parliament the co-equal legislator for almost all European laws and also created the position of the president of the European Council
What is "cohesion" policy?
various funds that provide grants to states for developing poorer regions. Includes infrastructure, job training, R&D, ag and fisheries support,