The European Union

By: Shashank KanojiaAnd

James Andrews

History of the EU• 1950 – French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presents plan for a

comprehensive European cooperation, including Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg

• 1951 – European Coal and Steel Community • 1957 – Treaty of Rome signed, creating the European Economic

Community (EEC), or Common Market• 1962 – Common Agricultural Policy begins, joint control over food

production• 1963 – The EU signs first big international agreement, a deal to help

18 former colonies located in Africa• 1968 – The six founding countries remove custom duties on goods

imported from each other

History of the EU• 1973 – The six countries become nine when Denmark, Ireland

and the United Kingdom enter the organization• 1974 – European Regional Development Fund is enacted,

transferring money from the richer regions to the poorer ones to improve infrastructure

• 1979 – EU citizens directly elect the members of the European Parliament for the first time, previously being elected by national parliaments

• 1981 – Greece is admitted into the EU• 1986 – Portugal and Spain are admitted into the EU• 1986 – Single European Act allows for free trade across EU

borders

History of the EU• 1992 – The Maastricht Treaty is signed, formally creating the EU• 1993 – Single Market is introduced, with four freedoms being

established: free movement of goods, services, people, and money• 1995 – Austria, Sweden, and Finland admitted to the EU• 1995 – Travellers of any nationality can travel freely between

borders without a passport while in Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Portugal

• 1997 – Treaty of Amsterdam, builds on Maastricht, gives more power to the people

• 1999 – The Euro is introduced in 11 countries, including Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, and Finland

History of the EU• 2002 – Euro notes and coins arrive onto the market, making

commerce easier throughout• 2004 – Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,

Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia are admitted into the EU

• 2004 – The 25 EU countries sign a treaty that establishes a European Constitution

• 2007 – Bulgaria and Romania are admitted into the EU• 2007 – The Treaty of Lisbon aims to make the EU more

democratic, efficient, and transparent, making it able to combat climate change, security issues, and sustainable development

Government of the EU

• Capitals: Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg • There is no established constitution in existence• Although in 2004 the then 25 members of the EU decided on

having a Constitution, it hasn’t been made official because each state must approve it.

• Treaty on European Union (TEU) [7th February, 1992]- establishes the European Union as a supranational state.

• There are 27 member states.

Current Leaders of EU

José Manuel Barroso heads the EU executive as President of the European Commission- new comm. Every 5 years.

Herman Van Rompuy is the current President of the European Council- rotates every 6 months

Vassilios Skouris, from Greece, is President of the Court of Justice- renewable term of 3 years.

Jerzy Buzek is the President of the EU Parliament- Elections every 5 years.

European Commission

• The EU’s Executive arm- responsible for implementing the decisions of the Parliament and the Council.

• Consists of 27 members, one from each country- Commissioners are nominated by home governments and approved by qualified majority voting in the Council.

• The European Commission has 4 main roles:• 1. To propose Legislation to Parliament and the Council• 2. To manage and implement EU policies and the budget.• 3. To enforce European law (along with the Court of Justice)• 4. To represent EU on international stage by negotiating agreements between

the EU and other countries.

• Independent of National Governments- Job is to represent and uphold interests of EU as a whole.

The European Council

• The main decision-making body in the EU.• It represents the member states and meetings are attended by

one minister from each of the EU’s national governments.• Each minister represents his/her national government.• The Council has 6 key roles:

• 1. To pass European laws- jointly with the EU parliament in many policy areas.

• 2. To coordinate the broad economic policies of the member states.• 3. To conclude international agreements between EU and other

countries.• 4. To approve EU’s budget, jointly with the European Parliament.• 5. To develop EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)-

• Council has limited role here as national governments have ultimate authority in these matters.

The European Council• 6. To coordinate cooperation between the national courts and police

forces in criminal matters.• Decisions in the council are taken by vote- votes are determined by the

population of the member state with relation to the EU as a whole. • If country has bigger population, then has more votes.

Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom: 29Spain and Poland: 27Romania: 14The Netherlands: 13Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal: 12Austria, Bulgaria and Sweden: 10Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Finland: 7Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovenia: 4

Malta: 3TOTAL 345

European Court of Justice• Court of Justice set up under the European Coal and Steel

Community (ECSC) treaty (1952)• Its job is to make sure EU legislation is interpreted and applied in

the same way in all EU countries, so law is equal for everyone.– Also make sure EU member states and institutions do what law requires-

court has power to settle disputes bet. EU member states, institutions, businesses, and individuals.

• Composed of one judge per member state (27), and is assisted by 8 advocates general.

• The 5 most common types of cases are:– 1. References for a preliminary ruling.– 2. Actions for failure to fulfill an obligation– 3. Actions for annulment– 4. Actions for failure to act -- 5. Actions for damages.

European Parliament• The Parliament is elected by the citizens of the EU to represent their

interests- Elections held every 5 years.• Members of EU Parliament (MEPs) sit in 7 Europe-wide Political

groups.• Parliament based in 3 places: Brussels (Belgium), Luxembourg, and

Strasbourg (France).• Parliament has 3 main roles:

– 1. Passing European Laws- With the Council in many policy areas.– 2. Parliament exercises democratic supervision over other EU institutions, in

particular the Commission. It has power to approve/reject Commissioners, and has right to censure Commission as a whole

– 3. The Power of the Purse: Can influence EU spending because it shares with the Council authority over EU budget.

European Parliament

Number of seats per country (2009 – 2014 parliamentary term)

Austria 17 Latvia 8Belgium 22 Lithuania 12Bulgaria 17 Luxembourg 6Cyprus 6 Malta 5

Czech Republic 22 Netherlands 25Denmark 13 Poland 50Estonia 6 Portugal 22Finland 13 Romania 33France 72 Slovakia 13

Germany 99 Slovenia 7Greece 22 Spain 50

Hungary 22 Sweden 18Ireland 12 United Kingdom 72

Italy 72 TOTAL 736

Number of seats per country (2009 – 2014 parliamentary term)

Current Event

• In recent years Turkey has tried to join the EU, and Northern Cyprus, where the Turkish Cypriots occupy the land, has been historically backed by the Turkish government.

• Northern Cyprus is only acknowledged by Turkey, thereby making it a blemish on their road to becoming an EU country

• Northern Cyprus gained “independence” from Cyprus in a coup d’etat in 1974

• The Turkish Army currently occupies North Cyprus to protect them from the Cyprian forces

Current Event

• As of 2005 Turkey was finally allowed into the ascension negotiations, after decades of waiting, in which there must be certain guidelines met for Turkey to be allowed to join the EU

• Turkey must meet the Copenhagen criteria:• A stable Democratic government, protecting the rights of all

citizens, including minorities• Existence of a functioning Market Economy, able to cope with

competitive pressures and market forces within the Union• Able to achieve the political, economic, and monetary goals of

the EU, and the governmental ability to apply them

Current Event Questions

• Do you think the “Turkey” question can mean trouble for the European Union? Do you allow unrest between the internal members, or just disregard all enemies of the Union?

• Are the rules and regulations too strict now to allow new members into the Union? What happens to those countries that do not share common governments or markets, but wish to still participate in the Union?