history of the european union (eu)
Post on 12-Jan-2016
66 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
http:/ / www.bized.ac.uk
Copyright 2006 – Biz/ ed
The European Union 1
All photographs and graphics courtesy of European Commission Audiovisual Libraryhttp:/ / europa.eu.int/ comm/ mediatheque/ photo/ index_ en.html
History of the European Union (EU)• 1948 – Organization for European
Economic Cooperation (OEEC) founded to administer U.S. Marshall Plan
• 1957 – Treaty of Rome established European Economic Community (EEC)
• 1967 – European Community (EC) established
History of the European Union (EU)• 1991 – The Maastricht Treaty – laid
down main elements for future European gov’t
• Single currency, common foreign & security policy, common citizenship, & an EU parliament with more extensive powers
• Ratified in 1993 – called it the EU
Political Institutions• 1. EU Parliament – 786 by 2009
(directly elected by pop.)• Based in France, Belgium, and
Luxembourg• EU Parl. passes laws, monitors budget,
& monitors EU institutions• 2. EU Council – ministerial
representations from each member state
Political Institutions• Council passes laws, approves EU
budget, coordination of economic policies, develops foreign policy, and coordinates anti-crime strategies
• 3. EU Commission – 20 commissioners appointed by each member state every 5 years (over 21,000 employees)
• Proposes legislation, implements EU policies, law enforcement, international coordination
Financial Institutions• 1. European Central Bank –
inflation target of less than 2% per year, sets short term interest rates for the whole eurozone area
• Implements and monitors Eurozone monetary policy
• 2. European Investment Bank – “owned” by member states
Financial Institutions• Raise finance through financial
markets
• Invest in projects to promote aims of EU – large-scale projects
• 3. Court of Auditors – monitors legality and efficiency of EU income & expenditure
Judicial Institutions• Court of Justice – one judge from
each member state
• Interprets and applies EU legislation
• The Commission or a member country can bring other member countries or the Commission to the court for failing to meet treaty obligations
EU Activities• Long list includes agriculture,
fisheries, environment, regions, finance/economics, aid, employment, energy, etc.
• CAP – Common Agricultural Policy – food quality, food safety, animal welfare, farmer welfare/incomes, employment in agriculture
Activities
Finance/Economics• Euro – monitor introduction &
development• Tax harmonization – reduce
differences in taxes throughout the single market to aid competition & transparency
• Single Market – free movement of goods, services, labor, & capital between member states
http:/ / www.bized.ac.uk
Copyright 2006 – Biz/ ed
Eurozone 2001
Members of the Eurozone, 2001. UK, Denmark and Norway currently outside the zone
Council Voting Methods
• UNANIMITY – used to be the main voting method; used in matters exclusive to the justice & home affairs & common and foreign security policy
• Certain financial and constitutional matters also require unanimity as do some legislative procedures
Council Voting Methods
• SIMPLE MAJORITY – each member state has one vote & a simple majority of 8 is required
• Restricted mainly to minor procedural matters & to certain measures covered by the Common Commercial Policy (about tariffs)
Council Voting Methods
• QUALIFIED MAJORITY VOTING (QMV) – each state is given a number of votes, roughly in proportion to population
• Covers broad range of policy decisions
• Adoption of acts requires 62 votes (out of 87 total or 71.3%) in favor, cast by not less than 10 member states
Community Legislative Instruments
• REGULATIONS – decisions which have direct legal force in member states with immediate effects
• Mostly concerned with technical decisions, particularly relating to CAP
• Binding in their entirety and directly applicable
Community Legislative Instruments
• DIRECTIVES – set out principles of legislation, but left up to member states to implement through national law
• Time limit left to do this is usually 2-3 years
• Once passed into national law, they are binding & expected to have same results in member states that apply
Community Legislative Instruments
• DECISIONS – similar to regulations but addressed to governments, undertakings, or individuals
• RECOMMENDATIONS and OPINIONS – not binding; used to provide additional information on specific issues
top related