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European Union

European Union. EU built on treaties. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EU. The European Union has gone through many incarnations since its origins fifty-plus years ago.

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European Union

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  1. European Union

  2. EU built on treaties

  3. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EU The European Union has gone through many incarnations since its origins fifty-plus years ago.

  4. European Coal and Steel Community*1952: The basis of the EU began with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), to regulate European industry & improve commerce, post WWII.* The six founding states were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.*1957: the Treaties of Romewere signed by the six member states, forming:-The European Economic Community (EEC) -The European Atomic Energy Community(Euroatom)* These units worked concurrently with the ECSC.

  5. The European Communities (EC) • 1967: ECSC, EEC, and EuroAtommerged to form the basis of the EC. • 1973: the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland joined the EC. • 1981: Greece joined. • 1986: Spain and Portugal joined.

  6. Goals of the EC • To continue to improve Europe’s economy by regulating trade and commerce. • To form a single market for Europe's economic resources. • As these goals were accomplished, other goals were developed: • Environmental movements • Regulatory acts • Human rights concerns.

  7. SingleEuropeanAct(SEA) • SEA (1987): • An attempttosimplity the decision making process by extending ”qualifiedmajorityvoting” (QMV) to new areas, replacing the need for unanimity. • A step forward in cooperationwith the introductionof the SINGLE MARKET. • Single market is based on 4 freedoms: • The freemovementof: • Goods • Capital • Services • People • The firstideasof an economic and monetary union areintroduced, but no specificdetails.

  8. THE EUROPEAN UNION 1992: the Maastricht Treatywas ratified, which rechartered the EC as the European Union.

  9. Basis of the EU The European Union is based on the rule of law and democracy. It is neither a new State replacing existing ones nor is it comparable to other international organisations. Its Member States delegate sovereignty to common institutions representing the interests of the Union as a whole on questions of joint interest. All decisions and procedures are derived from the basic treaties ratified by the Member States.

  10. The 3 pillarsof the EU

  11. Principal Objects of the EU • Establish European Citizenship • Ensure freedom, security, and justice • Promote economic and social progress • Assert Europe’s role in the world

  12. Eastwardenlargement • Copenhangencriteria1993 3 criteria • Political: democracy, ruleoflaw, human rights, protectionof and respect for minorities. • Economic: functioning market economy. • Legislative: abilitytomeet the requirements (legal and administrative) of EU membership(acquiscommunautaire).

  13. 1995 • Finland, Sweden, and Austria.

  14. 2004 country - date of EU application • Cyprus - 3 July 1990 • Malta - 16 July 1990 • Hungary - 31 March 1994 • Poland - 5 April 1994 • Slovakia - 27 June 1995 • Latvia - 13 October 1995 • Estonia - 24 November 1995 • Lithuania - 8 December 1995 • Czech Republic - 17 January 1996 • Slovenia - 10 June 1996

  15. 2007 • Bulgaria and Romania

  16. TreatyofLisbon(2009) • ”…enhancing the efficiency and democraticlegitimacyof the Union…” • Amended and consolidatedearliertreaties. • Expanded QMV in Council of EU. • EU Parliamentbecamemorepowerful. • EU bill ofright’sbecomeslegallybinding.

  17. Terms you must know! Intergovernmental- decision makingpower lies withindividualmemberstates. Supranational – decision makingpower is held by the organisation. Decisionsmade by majority. Federalism – the ideathatpoliticalpower is sharedbetween the participantstates and the federal level. Division ofpower is governed by a constitution.

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