chapter 7: the european union. the eu 1. website for the eu

Chapter 7:Chapter 7:The The

European European UnionUnion

THE EU

• 1. WEBSITE FOR THE EU

• www.europa.eu.int

http://www.europa.eu.int/

THE EU

• 2. What is the EU?

THE EU

• 2. It is a SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATION

• Teacher say what?

THE EU

• 2. It is a SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATION – An authority that transcends national borders

THE EU

• 2. “It is a unique economic and political partnership between 27 democratic European countries.”

–Europa

THE EU

• 3. Which countries are members of the EU?

• MAP TIME

THE EU

• 3. Which countries are members of the EU?

You are to fill in the Blank Map of the EU with the names of all Member Countries

THE EU

THE EU

• CHARTER MEMBERS – 1957

• France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands

THE EU

• 1973- Britain, Ireland, Denmark

• 1981 – Greece

• 1986 – Spain and Portugal

• 1995 – Finland, Austria, and Sweden

THE EU

• Historic 2004

• Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia

THE EU

• 2007 – Bulgaria and Romania

THE EU

• Member Candidates:• Turkey, Croatia, Albania,

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

THE EU

• On the outside but not really looking in:

• Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Lichtenstein

Thinking About The EU4. Key Questions

– How and why did the EU emerge?– What is its political culture and how does it

shape the way people participate in its political life?

– What are the main decision-making bodies?– What are its critical public policy initiatives?– How do the European people learn about and

react to those policies?– How will the EU and its institutions be affected

by broadening and deepening?

Thinking About The EU5. Three Pillars of the EU

- Trade and economic cooperation – Cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs

(social)– Create a Common Foreign and Security

Policy (CFSP)

Thinking About The EU6. Mission of the EU:

• provide peace, prosperity and stability for its peoples;

• overcome the divisions on the continent; • ensure that its people can live in safety; • promote balanced economic and social

development; • meet the challenges of globalisation and

preserve the diversity of the peoples of Europe; • uphold the values that Europeans share, such as

sustainable development and a sound environment, respect for human rights and the social market economy.

Thinking About The EU

6. Is the EU a “STATE”?

DISCUSS NOW



Yes DUE TO:

Flag

Logo

Governing Bodies



Yes DUE TO:

3 Active Capital Cities in Brussels, Luxembourg, and Strasbourg (FR)



Yes DUE TO:

Major world powers have embassies in Brussels devoted to EU relations

Thinking About The EU6. Is the EU a “STATE”?

Yes DUE TO:

A Common Currency

The Euro

Thinking About The EU6. Is the EU a “STATE”? NO DUE TO:Euro not accepted as common

currency all overNo common LingoNo single government / policy

makers

Thinking About The EU6. Is the EU a “STATE”?

NO DUE TO:

Some nations are not fully invested or accepting of the EU concept

Public Opinion is not fully supportive either

The Evolution of the EU

• HOMEWORK TIME• MAKE A TIMELINE OF THE EU

HIGHLIGHTING THE FOLLOWING YEARS:

1950/51 1981 19971952 1985 20011957 1986 20021963 1987 20041967/68 1991 20051973 1995 2007

The Evolution of the EU

• The Treaty of Paris• The Treaty of Rome• The Schengen Agreement• The Single European Act• The Maastricht Treaty• The Treaty of Amsterdam• The Treaty of Nice• The Lisbon Treaty

LEGITIMACYLEGITIMACY

What is meant by the term “legitimacy”?


Where does the EU get its sense of “Legitimacy”?


LEGITMACY =

1.) The Numerous treaties and referendum processes

2.) its efforts to promote trade, economic growth, and economic stability.

3.) Its methods of representation – both of nations and of citizens

4.) Its requirements of unanimity and qualified majority voting

MEMBERSHIP PROCESS

• 1. European Integration is a political and economic process open to ALL European nations

2. Any European state may apply to become a member of the Community

MEMBERSHIP PROCESS

• 3. Then it is a process of negotiation between the candidate country and the European Commission

• 4. Acceptance into the EU requires a unanimous vote of all member states in the Council

MEMBERSHIP PROCESS

• 5. Next, the European Parliament must give its Assent by positive vote of absolute majority

• 4. Then finally, the new member states must ratify all EU treaties according to the state’s constitutional procedures (Like by referendum of the citizens)

MEMBERSHIP PROCESS

• CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE

• -See the “Copenhagen Criteria” of 1993 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997

• Each new member state must have the following:

MEMBERSHIP PROCESS


• 1. Stable democratic institutions with guarantees for rule of law, human rights, and respect for / protection of minority rights

MEMBERSHIP PROCESS


• 2. A functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the EU

MEMBERSHIP PROCESS


• 3. “Acquis Communautaire” - The ability to take on and accept the body of laws and regulations of the EU as well as have a public administration capable of applying and managing EU laws in practice

INSTITUTIONS OF THE EU

• The Founding Fathers of the EU had many of the same problems over representation and power that the USA had in 1787.

• How to accommodate such drastically different nations:

• Big nations v. small nations

• Rich nations v. poor nations


• The following slides lay out the basics of the institutions of the EU

• 1. EU “Primary Legislation” is all of the TREATIES that exist between the member states.


• 2. “Secondary Legislation” of the EU is all of the regulations, directives and recommendations adopted by the various EU institutions


• Legislation in the EU is the result of decisions taken by the Institutional Triangle or the Decision-Making Triangle of the EU


• I. THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

• What is it?

• It is the Main Decision-Making body of the EU



• Who does it represent?

• It represents each of the member states



• Who is part of the Council?• Each country sends a Minister to the

meetings in Brussels and which Minister it is depends on the topic of the meeting, Foreign policy, environment, agriculture, industry, etc.



• Who is part of the Council?• When the Heads of State / Government

meet, it is called the “EUROPEAN COUNCIL” which meets 4 x per year

• The President of the European Commission is also on the Council



• The “EUROPEAN COUNCIL” is the official initiator of the EU’s major policies and has power to settle differences among the Ministers



• The “EUROPEAN COUNCIL” also operates under the CFSP for diplomatic and international issues



• The leader of the COUNCIL is the COUNCIL PRESIDENT

• EU Member states share this position and alternate every 6 months



• POWERS / DUTIES / ROLE:

• A.) “CO-DECISION” procedure allows that the Council and the EU Parliament share legislative power. Council prepares drafts of bills and the EP enacts them




• B.) The Council shares equal responsibility with the EP for adopting the budget of the EU




• C.) It concludes international agreements negotiated by the European Commission



• VOTING PROCESS – Very complicated– 1.) UNANIMOUS – on important questions

like new Treaties, a new common policy or new members



• VOTING PROCESS – Very complicated– 2.) QUALIFIED MAJORITY VOTE – No

need for unanimity but will need 255 out of 345 (73.9%) votes in Council

– See Handout for specifics



• VOTING PROCESS – Very complicated– 2.) QUALIFIED MAJORITY VOTE – Why

do this?– It keeps larger states from dominating and

smaller states from blocking something that has broad based support

– increases legitimacy



• VOTING PROCESS – Very complicated– 3.) Simple Majority Vote – All other cases

2. EUORPEAN PARLIAMENT

• A. What? The EU’ legislative arm• But historically the weakest institution

• B. Membership Selection? • 785 members elected directly by universal

suffrage from the member states for 5 year terms

• So it represents the EU citizens in each state


• C. Role / Powers:• Exercises Democratic Political supervision

over day-to-day EU activities and policies• Plays a role in the legislative process• Helps create and approve the EU budget• Can dismiss the EC by a Censure motion

with 2/3 vote • President of Council reports directly to EP


• D. Organization:

• Meets in Strasbourg but also in Brussels

• Operates through 20 subject area committees

• Also has the EU General Secretariat with over 3500 bureaucrats working


• F. 3 Special Powers in Leg Process:

• 1.) “Cooperation” Procedure – Single European Act of 1987 – The EP can give its opinion on draft directives and regulations of the EC which then has to amend those proposals


• F. 3 Special Powers in Leg Process:

• 2.) “ASSENT” Procedure – Since 1987 – EP gives its assent to international agreements negotiated by EC and to any proposed enlargement (Broadening)


• F. 3 Special Powers in Leg Process:• 3.) “CO-DECISION” Procedure – 1992

Maastricht Treaty – EP = to Council • EP has power to veto (throw out) proposed

leg by the Council in areas of free movement, internal market, education, research, the environment, health, culture, etc.

3. EUROPEAN COMMISSION

• A. The executive arm of the EU

• B. Membership Selection: 1 Commissioner from each state appointed by agreement between members for 5 year terms (subject of the approval of the EP)


• C. Powers / Role:• “Guardians of the Treaties” – UPHOLD

THE COMMON INTERESTS• EC upholds all of the supranational

common interest so commissioners cannot take instructions from any national EU government

• -Supposed to be unbiased toward any nation


• C. Powers / Role:• Right to propose legislation to Council and

to EP• Ensure that EU policies are properly

implemented in states – Bring members to ECJ if not in compliance

• Has to answer to EP and must resign if censured by 2/3 rds vote of the EP


• D. Organization:

• It has a civil service made up of 46 Directorates-General (DG’s) working with the commissioners

• It works out of Brussels and Luxembourg

ADDITIONAL INSTITUTIONS

• 1. ECJ – EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE

• A. Where? Luxembourg

• B. Organization? 1 judge from each EU country, assisted by 8 Advocates-General

• Appointed by joint agreement of members governments for 6 year terms



• C. Powers / Role: Independence is guaranteed

• Ensure that EU law is complied with and that Treaties are correctly interpreted and applied

• Court of first instance (original jurisdiction) for cases involving EU directives and regulations



– Decisions have frequently made major expansion of the EU’s authority possible

– Actions have limited national sovereignty in favor of the EU’s institutions


• 2. COURT OF AUDITORS

• A. Where? Luxembourg

• B. Membership: 1 from each EU country appointed for a 6 year term by agreement between member states


• 2. COURT OF AUDITORS

• C. Role: Checks that all EU revenue is received and all expenditures are proper and that EU budget is managed soundly

• It is the independent accounting “firm” or arm of the EU

• It is there to ensure confidence in the honesty of the EU’s fiscal activities


• 3. European Economic and Social Committee

• A. What? It is made up of representatives of the various economic and social interest groups that are the EU “Civil Society”

• Represents the Corporatist Interests of EU

• Members are appointed by the Council for 4 year terms


• 3. European Economic and Social Committee

• B. Role: The Council and the EC are to consult with this organization as policy is being considered


• 4. COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

• A. What? Made up of representatives of regional and local governments whoa re proposed by the member states and are appointed by the Council for 4 year terms

• Represents the local interests, authorities and minority cultural groups


• 4. COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

• B. Role: Council and EC must consult the CoR on issues of relevance to regions

• CoR has power to issue opinions on issues


• 5. EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN• An office that responds to individual citizen

complaints about EU operations• It gives a voice to grievances found to be

legitimate by the EO’s officials


• 6. EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK

• Based in Luxembourg

• Provides loans and guarantees to help less developed EU regions and help businesses become more competitive

• (DID THIS JUST GET TAKEN OVER BY SOME OTHER INSTITUTION???)


• 7. EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK (ECB)

• One of the “POWER INSTITUTIONS”

• Where? Frankfurt, Germany (Gee what a surprise)


• 7. EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK (ECB) • Role: Manages the EURO • makes monetary policy (sets interest rates),

regulates foreign exchange, and issues currency for members of the Monetary Union (12 of the 15 original EU members)


• 7. EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK (ECB) • It has a Governing Council (the heads of the 12

member countries’ national banks and six executives of the ECB) is totally independent in the exercise of its policies

• Goals are economic growth and price stability (less than 2% inflation per year)

Popular Culture and Popular Culture and Participation in the EUParticipation in the EU

• Few people identify themselves first as European.

• Key EU organizations are still superficial

• Democratic deficit

• Lack of common language

The European State?The European State?

• The Commission

• The Council• General Affairs Council• European Council• COREPRER• Qualified voting majority


• The Complexities of EU Decision Making– Policy making more complex and

confusing because it has to reconcile interests of its 27 member states with those that transcend national boundaries and the institutions are greatly fragmented.

– Still being built

The European State?The European State?• Next Steps?

– Further broadening and deepening seem unlikely in the foreseeable future

• Criteria to join:

– Establishment of a functioning and stable democratic regime

– Adoption of a market-oriented capitalist economy

– Acceptance of the acquis communautaire, the 80,000 pages of laws and regulations already on the EU’s books

• To be a “United States of Europe,” need commitment to a common foreign and security policy.


• The EU and National Sovereignty– Can it supplant the state and the primary

actor determining public policy and the broader ways in which people are governed?

Public Policy in the EUPublic Policy in the EU

• The Internal Market– The removal of tariffs and other barriers to trade

• Tremendous impact on both European governments and their citizens

– Monetary union• The euro• EMU gives the EU and its new central bank

powerful levers they can exert over national governments

Public Policy in the EUPublic Policy in the EU• Common Agricultural Policy

– Took steps to modernize inefficient farms to be more competitive in the European market

– Established the EAFFF, giving farmers subsidies and guaranteeing the purchase of surplus goods at artificially high prices.

– Demonstrates how pressure put on member states can lead to policies that tend to impede a free market and also make the EU resistant to change.

– More recent reforms on the CAP have been forced on the EU by the GATT and the WTO.

– CAP will not be able to survive the 2004 enlargement

Feedback• There is very little feedback because of the way the EU

is structured and the way people participate (or don’t) in it.

• People pay little attention to the politics and policies of the EU.

• Turnout in European elections is much lower than in national ones.

• Coverage in the press is spotty and concentrates on its problems.

• Difficult for average people to have much of an impact on decision making; distance and disinterest.

chapter 7: the european union. the eu 1. website for the eu

Documents

eu trade

eu relationsthinking

eu conceptpublic opinion

european people

democratic european

intthe eu2

social development

political partnership