European Union Intro
Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe
(2004) abandoned after being rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005!!!
Other EU institutions
*The Court of Justice upholds the rule of European law. *The Court of Auditors checks the financing of the EU's activities. Number of other institutions and inter-institutional bodies that play specialized roles: - European Economic and Social Committee - Committee of the Regions - European Investment Bank - European Ombudsman - European Data Protection Supervisor - Publications Office - European Personnel Selection Office - European Administrative School
Schuman Declaration (9 May 1950)
- Proposed GER and FRA and any other country that wants, to UNITE COAL AND STEEL INDUSTRIES under a single authority. - to prevent making war. - The work done between the states will allow them to learn and trust one another and in the future, create a federation on the EUR continent.
The Council of Europe (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
- Strasbourg - Separate organization much bigger than the EU. - Includes countries like Turkey, Russia, and Armenia... - FAILED in its PURPOSE to become a parliament of the united states of Europe - LIVES ON AS AN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION (protecting the human rights of Europeans)
The Triumvirate
- Three postwar leaders: Schuman (FRA), Monnet (France), and Adenauer (W GER) - Add a 4th leader from ITA: de Gasperi - Mainly Christian Democrats - How are we going to unify the continent? Why don't we try to unite politically what is already united culturally? I.e. CATHOLICISM
Maastricht Treaty (1991)
1. Created the European Union (EU) under its current name, the world's largest single economic market. 2. Created a central bank for the European Union. 3. Adopt a single currency, the Euro. Note: anxiety about bringing in E EUR states.
How it all connects together: The EU's Institutional Set-up
1. EU's broad priorities set by the European Council, which brings together national and EU-level leaders. 2. Directly elected MEPs represent European citizens in Europarl. 3. Interests of the EU as a whole are promoted by the Commission, whose members are appointed by national governments. 4. Governments defend their own countries' national interests in the Council of the European Union.
What is the EU really
1. conglomeration of 28 member states (-1 GB?) with 2. supranational institutions (power transcends national gov'ts), and 3. common policies (most important are AG AND MONETARY POLICY!!!!)
The European Coal & Steel Community (ECSC) Treaty, aka Paris Treaty
1951 agreement among six European states to integrate their coal and steel economic sectors. Founding members: - FRA, W GER, ITA - Benelux countries (BEL, NED, LUX)
Enlargement
1995: Austria, Finland, Sweden (no Norway) 2004: Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia 2007: Bulgaria, Romania 2013: Croatia Present day: others that want in - Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina (FRA blocking b/c Macron doesn't think they're ready)
European Court of Justice
28 judges. Interprets laws. Adjudicates disputes.
How it all connects together: Law-making
3 main institutions involved in legislation: 1. Parliament - represents EU's citizens and is directly elected by them. 2. The Council - represents the governments of the individual member countries. Presidency of the Council is shared by the member states on a rotating basis. 3. Commission - represents the interests of the Union as a whole These 3 institutions, via Ordinary Legislative Procedure (ex "co-decision") produce the policies and laws that apply throughout the EU!
Decision
A legal instrument which is BINDING upon those individuals to which it is addressed. They are one of three kinds of legal instruments which may be effected under EU law which can have legally binding effects on individuals. Decisions MAY BE ADDRESSED TO MEMBER STATES OR INDIVIDUALS.
Europarl Committees
AFET Foreign Affairs DROI Human Rights SEDE Security and Defence DEVE Development INTA International Trade BUDG Budgets CONT Budgetary Control ECON Economic and Monetary Affairs EMPL Employment and Social Affairs ENVI Environment, Public Health and Food Safety ITRE Industry, Research and Energy IMCO Internal Market and Consumer Protection TRAN Transport and Tourism REGI Regional Development AGRI Agriculture and Rural Development PECH Fisheries CULT Culture and Education JURI Legal Affairs LIBE Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs AFCO Constitutional Affairs FEMM Women's Rights and Gender Equality PETI Petitions
conferral
According to this principle, the EU is a union of member states, and ALL its competences are voluntarily conferred on it by its member states. The EU has NO competences by right, and thus any areas of policy not explicitly agreed in treaties by all member states REMAIN THE DOMAIN OF THE MEMBER STATES. (always underpinned the European Union, but it was explicitly specified for the first time in the failed Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and carried over into its replacement, the Maastricht Treaty (aka the TEU).
Directive
An EU legal act that is 'binding, as to the result to be achieved', but leaves to member states' authorities the 'the choice of form and methods'.
member states (28* until the UK finally decides to leave)
Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom
Paris Treaty (1951)
Between France, West Germany, Italy and the three Benelux countries, establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, which subsequently became part of the European Union
Political Centres: BRUSSELS, BE
Bruxelles de facto capital of the EU largest urban area in BE, comprising 19 municipalities.
Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers)
Building: Justus Lipsius building (across street from the Berlaymont). Composition and Function: - Role: Voice of EU member governments, adopting EU laws and coordinating EU policies Members: Government ministers from each EU country, according to the policy area to be discussed President: Each EU country holds the presidency on a 6-month rotating basis Vote in a weighted fashion-- big countries have more voting power than smaller ones. Yes - 65%. Basically need a supermajority to get anything passed. Acts as upper parliamentary chamber, kind of like a senate. HIGH REPRESENTATIVE chairs the Foreign Affairs Council (national foreign ministers): - Josep Borrell (ESP) (formerly Federica Mogherini (ITA)) - the high representative is also a commissioner - represents FOREIGN POLICY! ***decisions are made by qualified majority voting in most areas, unanimity in others. Usually where it operates unanimously, it need only consult the Parliament. However, in most areas the ordinary legislative procedure applies meaning both Council and Parliament share legislative and budgetary powers equally. In a few limited areas the Council may initiate new EU law itself.***
The Commission
Building: the Berlaymont Composition: - 28 members (college), called commissioners, appointed by European Council and approved by the Parliament. They're kind of like ministers in a cabinet. Must make pledge to EUR. - President: Ursula von der Leyen (formerly Jean-Claude Juncker) Languages: English, French, German. Powers: 1. Represents EUR as a whole 2. Executive power to implement the laws 3. LEGISLATIVE POWER TO INITIATE LEGISLATION!!!!
The European Council
Building: the Egg. Made up of the heads of gov't of each member state. ***Defines the EU's overall political direction and priorities. It is not one of the EU's legislating institutions, so does not negotiate or adopt EU laws. Under the Lisbon Treaty, it sets EU's policy agenda, traditionally by adopting 'conclusions' during European Council meetings which identify issues of concern and actions to take.*** - High Representative for Foreign Affairs takes part in its meetings. Council President: Charles Michel (formerly PM of BEL). (fmr. council president was Donald Tusk (POL). Pres chairs meetings that take place at least twice every 6 months.
European Parliament (Europarl, EP)
Buildings: - (Strasbourg) Louise Weiss. - (Brussels) Espace Leopold. - Secretariat in Luxembourg and Bruxelles. President (aka Parliament's Speaker): David Sassoli (ITA) (formerly Antonio Tajani (ITA)). PRESIDES OVER A MULTI-PARTY CHAMBER. (COALITION GOV'T'S!!!!!!!!!) Official seat of the parliament is in Strasbourg. max of 751 members, 5-year terms (last election was early 2019). ***Lower parliamentary chamber. Exercises legislative function of the EU. BUT IT DOES NOT POSSESS LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE. ***Democratic supervision of the other EU institutions. The Commission is accountable to Parliament. ***Power of the purse!! ***shares = legislative & budgetary powers with Council. = control over EU budget.
Europe 1945: Post-WWII, the continent is destroyed...
Churchill - in 1946 goes to Zürich and gives a speech: We need a UNITED STATES OF EUROPE on the continent. - Start w/FRA & GER - Rebuilt as a single nation-state called the united states of Europe
Euro zone Crisis
Crisis of sovereign debt within Euro zone that broke out after 2009 that led to frantic emergency efforts by Euro zone members and the European Council to bail out Greece, Ireland, and Portugal and reconfigure European Monetary Union (EMU) rules.
Derrida
Deconstruction. an approach to understanding the relationship between text and meaning. Derrida's approach consisted of conducting readings of texts looking for things that run counter to the intended meaning or structural unity of a particular text. The purpose is to show that the usage of language in a given text, and language as a whole, are irreducibly complex, unstable, or impossible. Throughout his readings, Derrida hoped to show deconstruction at work.
The Treaties of Rome
ECON!!!!! - 2 treaties involved in uniting the economies of the member states. - CREATED THE COMMON MARKET!!! - trade goods across borders freely - unite currency (eventually) - unite monetary policy (eventually) - Set up the European Economic Community (EEC) - BUT... did not get very far
2 largest political parties in EU
EPP & Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)
Symbols of nationhood
EU flag, euro coins, anthem ("Ode to Joy"), common language (ENG)
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
EU goal of creating a single foreign policy for its fifteen member states; one of the three pillars. SIGNIFICANCE: HAS DEVELOPED A LIMITED ROLE IN EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND DEFENCE.
How it all connects together: Setting the agenda
European Council sets EU's overall political direction, but has no powers to pass laws. Meets for a few days at a time at least every 6 months.
EU Political Parties
European People's Party (EPP) -- Leader: Donald Tusk Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) -- Leader: Iratxe García Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) -- Leader: Hans van Baalen The Greens-European Free Alliance (Greens-EFA) -- Leaders: Ska Keller & Philippe Lamberts European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) -- Leader: Syed Kamall European United Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE-NGL) -- Leaders: Manon Aubry & Martin Schwirdewan Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) -- Leader: Anthony Zacharzewski Non-Inscrits (NI)
European Central Bank (ECB)
Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, DE Est. by Treaty of Amsterdam (1998). President: Christine Lagarde administers the monetary policy of the 17 EU Eurozone member states. Objective: maintain price stability within the Eurozone, aka KEEP INFLATION LOW (UNDER 2% per the Governing Council). KEY TASKS: 1. Define and implement monetary policy of Eurozone 2. Conduct FOREX operations 3. Take care of foreign reserves of the European System of central banks 4. Promote smooth operation of the financial market infrastructure under the Target payments system and the technical platform (currently being developed) for settlement of securities in Europe (TARGET2 Securities). EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF EURO BANKNOTES (think about The Fed). Member states could issue euro coins, BUT the amount must be authorized by ECB. 9 May 2010, 27 member states agreed to incorporate the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). The EFSF's mandate is to SAFEGUARD FINANCIAL STABILITY IN EUR BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO EUROZONE MEMBER STATES!!!!!!!!!
The Single European Act (SEA)
Implemented in 1986. Treaty saying to complete the single market by 1992.
Technical Spillover
Link a shared vision for commonality and unity, then see what non-controversial linkages can be made.
Functional Spillover
Link whatever is non-controversial, which will invite more linkages.
neo-functionalism
Linked economies will create bureaucracies that lessen the need for national power.
functionalism
Linked regulations and standards are issues that transcend national boundaries and will encourage integration.
Schengen Area Countries
List of countries in Schengen area: Austria Belgium Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland ***NOTE: IRE AND UK ARE NOT IN SCHENGEN***
The Court of justice of the European Union (CJEU)
Luxembourg encompasses the whole judiciary. 3 SUB-COURTS: 1. the ECJ 2. the General Court 3. the Civil Service Tribunal. Mission: ensure that "the law is observed" "in the interpretation and application" of the Treaties. Reviews the legality of the acts of the institutions of the European Union, ensures that the Member States comply with obligations under the Treaties and interprets European Union law at the request of the national courts and tribunals. Ensures uniform application and interpretation of EU law.
Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)
Opening of the whole eastern block of EUR
Brexit!
Originally voted to leave the EU in 2016 in a national referendum on the issue. The reality: Brits want what they can't have -- sovereignty AND open borders. Brexit timeline: • 23 June 2016 - In a UK-wide referendum, voters back leaving the EU by 52% to 48% • 29 March 2017 - The government triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, starting the process of the UK's withdrawal from the EU • November 2018 - EU leaders and UK Prime Minister Theresa May agree a withdrawal deal • Jan-March 2019 - The UK Parliament rejects the deal three times • October 2019 - New Prime Minister Boris Johnson agrees a withdrawal deal with the EU • 12 December 2019 - Boris Johnson wins the UK general election with an 80-seat majority • 20 December 2019 - MPs back the PM's deal with the EU by a majority of 124 • January 2020 - UK Parliament will further scrutinise the bill outlining these plans - and it is expected to pass into law • 31 January 2020 - The government says the UK will leave the EU at 23:00 GMT
Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP)
Parliament, which represents the EU's citizens and is directly elected by them. The Council represents the governments of the individual member countries. The Presidency of the Council is shared by the member states on a rotating basis. The Commission, represents the interests of the Union as a whole. Commission PROPOSES legislation, Parliament & Council ADOPT! Commission + member states IMPLEMENT, (and commission ensures laws are properly applied and implemented).
Constitution for Europe (failed in 2005)
Ratification: most states agreed except... FRA and NED
Thatcher & Delors
Thatcher: create zone of cooperation (a trade area) among members and hold it there. Don't need to create a united states of Europe. Delors: at the end of the Cold War, we need to make RAPID MOVEMENTS toward a united Europe.
The Lisbon Treaty (signed 2007, came into force in 2009)
The latest amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU. Underlies the legal basis for the EU!!!! Establishes the Institutions: - The Commission - Council of Ministers (aka Council of the European Union) - European Parliament - European Council - European Court of Justice (ECJ) **AMENDS MAASTRICHT AND ROME TREATIES!!!** **Prominent changes: 1. Move from required unanimity to double majority voting in several policy areas in Council of ministers.** 2. Made the EU's bill of rights (the Charter of Fundamental Rights) LEGALLY BINDING!!!!!** Goal: complete the process started by the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) and the Treaty of Nice (2001) with a view to enhancing efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the Union and improving the coherence of its action. OPPONENTS: former Danish MEP Jens-Peter Bonde. Argued that it would centralize the EU and weaken democracy by 'moving power away' from nat'l electorates. Originally intended to have been ratified by all member states by end of 2008, but this timetable failed b/c IRELAND electorate initially rejected the treaty (reversed in second referendum in 2009).
What is the future of the EU?
You'll come back from Brussels and tell everybody about it! But problems facing the EU to keep in mind: - Brexit (duh) - Rise of populism - Immigration flows - Unsteady Russia - A Eurozone soon to mark "a decade of sclerosis" (Usherwood & Pinder, 2018).
codecision
a legislative procedure used for vast majority of EU laws relating to free movement of goods, services, capital and person's within the single market. It also applies in environmental protection, consumer rights and transport safety
subsidiarity
a principle requiring action to be taken at EU level ONLY WHEN it can be more effective than action by individual states.
Political Centres: LUXEMBOURG, LU
also known as Luxembourg city, is a commune with city status and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg.
Regulation
an EC legal act that is 'binding in its entirety and directly applicable' in all member states/
Copenhagen Criteria
benchmarks used by the EU for evaluating suitability of states applying for membership. Cover: - stable institutions guaranteeing democracy - rule of law - human rights and respect for minorities - a functioning market econ - ability to take on the acquis - support for the various aims of the EU.
Political Centres: STRASBOURG, FR
capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern FR. official seat of the Europarl. Close to the border with DE, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. Note: the city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking.
What is the EU?
club/multilateral organization/confederation/federation DEPENDS ON WHAT ISSUE/POLICY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!
The Euro Group
composed of the finance ministers of the Euro zone states, however in emergencies, national leaders also form the Euro Group.
Habermas
different social groups organize to become political actors and compete for influence in public sphere
Amsterdam Treaty (1997)
extended the scope of co-decision and reformed the pillars on foreign policy and on justice and home affairs.
Schengen Area (1995)
includes EU and non-EU states. Passport controls have been abolished. Free movement of people, goods, services and capital, enact legislation in justice and home affairs, and maintain common policies on trade, ag, fisheries and regional development.
The Eurozone
officially called the 'euro area', is a monetary union of 19 of the 28 European Union (EU) member states which have adopted the euro (€) as their common currency and sole legal tender. Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain. *MOST STATES OBLIGED TO JOIN ONCE THEY MEET THE CRITERIA TO DO SO. No state has left and there are no provisions to do so or to be expelled. MONETARY POLICY of the zone is the responsibility of the ECB! No common representation, governance, or fiscal policy. BUT... some cooperation takes place through the Euro Group, which makes political decisions regarding the Eurozone and the euro. ***Since late-2000s financial crisis, Eurozone has established and used provisions for granting emergency loans to member states in return for the enactment of economic reforms. Has also enacted some limited fiscal integration, e.g. peer review of each other's national budgets. THIS ISSUE IS HIGHLY POLITICAL AND IN A STATE OF FLUX AS OF 2011!!!!!!!!! On occasion the Eurozone is taken to include non-EU members who use the euro as their official currency (San Marino, Kosovo, & Montenegro). HOWEVER, these countries DO NOT formally form part of the Eurozone and DO NOT have representation in the ECB or the Euro Group
proportionality
proportionality requires that any action by the Union should not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the treaty.
Nice Treaty (2001)
provided for institutional reforms in anticipation for the enlargement to Central and Eastern Europe, with new voting weights and procedures, and more use for enhanced cooperation procedures.
Competence
•The power to adopt normative acts. A legislative competence is the material field within which the EU is entitled to legislate. • It applies to the Union as such and to the institutions. •VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION of competences: the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the Member States. •HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION of competences: the distribution of decision-making functions among the EU institutions (institutional balance).