The European Union

The European Union

Member/Potential Member Countries of the EU

Demographics • Institution sites: Brussels, Luxembourg, Strasbourg • Monetary Authority: European Central Bank • 27 Member States • Currency: Euro • 23 official Languages • Area: 4,324,782 km² (7th) • Population:497,198,740 (3rd) • 114 people/square km • GDP: $14.712 trillion (1st) U.S. $14.5T • Life Expectancy: 78 years total population/75.8 for males and 81.9 for females • Major Imports: oil, electrical machinery, office machines • Major Exports: road vehicles, electrical machinery, industrial machinery • European Anthem: “Hymn to Joy”

History of European Integration • 1946- Winston Churchill gives speech at the University of Zürich, calling for a "United States of Europe" • 1949- Formation of the Council of Europe • 1950- Robert Schuman presented his proposal for the creation of an integrated Europe. This proposal, known as the "Schuman Declaration", is considered to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union. • 1951- Treaty of Paris forms the European Coal and Steel Community. Six founding countries: Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, West Germany, France, Italy • 1954- French National Assembly refuses to ratify the European Defense Community treaty • 1957- Treaty of Rome establishes the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) with Treaty of Paris 6 countries. • 1960- Britain and other OEEC members who didn't belong to the EEC formed an alternative association, the European Free Trade Association • 1963- Charles DeGaulle vetoes Britain’s membership in the EEC. DeGaulle vetoes another attempt at membership in 1967. • 1965—Common Market name adopted • 1966- Luxembourg compromise, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) adopted • 1967- EEC, ECSC and Euratom merge into the European Community • 1972- Ireland, Denmark and Norway hold referenda on whether to join

EU History 1973-Present 1973- Britain successfully joins the EU. Denmark and Ireland join too. Norway rejects. 1979- First direct elections for the European Parliament 1981- Greece joins the EU 1985- Greenland leaves the union after home rule and a referendum 1985- Schengen treaty: open borders within EU without passports 1986- Portugal and Spain join the EU 1986- Single European Act signed in Luxembourg 1992- Maastricht Treaty 1993- Criteria were drawn and established at the European Council in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Copenhagen Criteria) 1997- Treaty of Amsterdam 1995- Austria, Sweden and Finland (with Åland) are admitted 2001- Treaty of Nice 2003- Treaty of Accession signed in Athens 2004--EU Constitution rejected; Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia join EU 2007- Bulgaria and Romania join the EU 2007—Treaty of Lisbon negotiated 2008—Treaty of Lisbon rejected by Ireland 2009—Treaty of Lisbon approved by Ireland and Czech Republic; enters into force

Treaties of European Union • The Treaty of Paris (1951) created the European Steel and Coal Community (ESCC). • The Treaties of Rome (1957) established the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) • The Schengen Agreement (1985) eliminated border controls between member countries (now currently 24) • The Single European Act (1986) introduced measures aimed at achieving an internal market and greater political cooperation. • The Maastricht Treaty (1992) established EU citizenship and the European Monetary Union (EMU). • The Amsterdam Treaty (1997) introduced measures to reinforce political union and prepare for enlargement towards the East. • The Nice Treaty (2001) defined the institutional changes necessary for enlargement. • The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe sought to simplify and synthesize previous treaties within a single, clear, foundational document for the European Union. It was rejected in 2007 by French and Dutch voters, leading to the Treaty of Lisbon (2009) after a “period of reflection” • The Treaty of Lisbon (2009), among other things, eliminated the pillar system and established a President of the European Council and Foreign Minister

Schengen Agreement, 1985 • Eliminated borders between countries that were signatories

The Single European Act • Apart from minor modifications, this Treaty was the first profound and wide-ranging constitutional reform of the EU since the 1950s. • The SEA introduced measures aimed at achieving an internal market (for instance, harmonization) plus institutional changes related to these (such as a generalization of qualified majority voting and a cooperation procedure involving the European Parliament). • It also provided legal form for European Political Cooperation (EPC). The SEA was signed in February 1986 and came into force on 1 July 1987.

Maastricht Treaty • The Treaty on European Union initiated the road to political and economic and monetary union. It was drafted at a historic juncture in which the reunification of Germany and the fall of the Soviet block made necessary a re-thinking of the European project. • Created EU citizenship and the EMU • Created the so-called three pillar structure. • 3 Pillars: European Community (EC) pillar, the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) pillar, and the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) pillar • It was signed on 7 February 1992 and came into force on 1 November 1993.

Pillar 1 Issues: European Community • Customs Union and Single Market • Common Agriculture • Common Fisheries Policy • EU competition law • EU Citizenship • Education and Culture • Trans-European Network • Consumer protection • Health Care • Research • Environmental law • Social policy • Immigration

Pillar 2 Issues: Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) • Foreign Policy: • Human Rights • Democracy • Foreign aid • Security policy: • European Security and Defense Policy • EU battle groups • European Rapid Reaction Force • Peacekeeping

Pillar 3 : Police & Judicial Cooperation • Cooperation in the fight against crime. • This pillar was originally named Justice and Home Affairs • Examples: • Drug trafficking and weapons smuggling • Terrorism • Organized crime

Ratification of Maastricht Treaty • Difficulties in various states • A referendum in France only narrowly supported it, with 51.05% in favor, and Denmark rejected the original treaty, only to hold a 2nd referendum and pass it

Amsterdam Treaty • Enlargement towards the East plus several pending issues on the EU agenda prompted the negotiation of the Treaty of Amsterdam just four years after the conclusion of the Treaty of Maastricht. • Negotiations, however, took place in a much less optimistic climate. The Treaty of Amsterdam opened the way towards reinforced or closer cooperation but it failed to resolve institutional issues created by the forthcoming enlargement. • It was signed on 2 October 1997 and came into force on 1 May 1999.

Nice Treaty • The Nice Treaty dealt mainly with the institutional adaptations required for the expansion of the Union to 25 Member States. • These issues remained unresolved with the Treaty of Amsterdam and they provided the background for the one of the most difficult negotiations in the history of the Union. The Treaty was signed on 26 February 2001 and came into force on 2 February 2003.

Constitutional Treaty for Europe (2004) • Towards the end of the 20th century, it became clear for a large number of European leaders that the EU required a re-foundation and renovation. • From an initial agenda that included the distribution of competencies, simplification and the incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the Convention on the Future of Europe produced a fully-fledged proposal for a Constitution or Constitutional Treaty for Europe. • Italian and Irish Presidencies had led the negotiation and final approval of this document. • On 29 October 2004, the Heads of State or Government of the 25 Member States and the 3 candidate countries signed the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe • Needed to be ratified by all 25 member states of the enlarged Union. • Rejected by French and Dutch voters in separate referenda

The Treaty of Lisbon (2009) • Prominent changes included more qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers • Increased involvement of the European Parliament in the legislative process through extended co-decision with the Council of Ministers • Eliminated the pillar system and the creation of a long-term President of the European Council and a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to present a united position on EU policies. • The Treaty also made the Union's human rights charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, legally binding

The Government of the EU: A Prototype • Political leadership: • Council of Ministers (Council of the European Union): Weighted votes, sets policy • Bureaucracy: • European Commission: Implements policy • President of the Commission • Oversight agencies • Legislature: • European Parliament • Judiciary: • Courts of Justice, First Instance, Auditors • European Ombudsman

Judicial Branch • European Court of Justice • European Court of Human Rights created by European Convention on Human Rights • Single European Act established a junior Court of First Instance in 1989

The European Court of Justice • 27 judges-one from each state appointed for 6 years. Ensures that EU law is properly applied and to resolve disputes between governments, EU institutions, and citizens over that law • Types of Proceedings for the Court of Justice • actions for failure to fulfill obligations under the treaties (Commission vs. member state) • actions by one member state against another • actions on grounds of failure to act (against Council or Commission) • references from national courts for preliminary rulings to clarify the meaning and scope of Community law • claims for damages against the Community • works by unanimity unlike the U.S. Supreme Court • all member states are obliged to accept its rulings and powers which are stated in the Treaties of Paris and Rome • decisions are not subject to appeal • increasingly large caseload

Other European Courts • European Court of Human Rights • Serious challenges to sovereignty—Ireland • UK foxhunting issue • Court of First Instance rules on: • Staff cases • Actions in the field of competition law • Actions under antidumping law • Actions under the ECSC Treaty

Executive Branch • Headed by European Commission but now potentially by European Council President • Jobs: • Proposing new legislation • Implementing EU policies and the budget • Enforcing European law • Representing the EU on the international stage

Legislative Branch • European Parliament (EP) • Elections are held every five years • The present parliament has 785 members from all 27 EU countries. Nearly one third of them are women. • Jobs: • Passing European laws • Democratic supervision • The power of the purse

The Council of the European Union • The Council is the EU's main decision-making body and is composed of twenty-seven national ministers (one per state). • The exact membership depends upon the topic; for example, when discussing the agricultural policy the Council is formed by the twenty-seven national ministers whose portfolio includes this policy area (with the related European Commissioner contributing but not voting) • The Council has six key responsibilities: • To pass European laws – jointly with the European Parliament in many policy areas. • To co-ordinate the broad economic policies of the member states. • To conclude international agreements between the EU and other countries or international organisations. • To approve the EU’s budget, jointly with the European Parliament. • To develop the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), based on guidelines set by the European Council. • To co-ordinate co-operation between the national courts and police forces in criminal matters (see the Freedom, security and justice section). • There are nine different Council configurations: • General Affairs and External Relations • Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) • Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) • Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs • Competitiveness • Transport, Telecommunications and Energy • Agriculture and Fisheries • Environment • Education, Youth and Culture

The Future of the European Union • Duality about further integration; several determining and controversial factors • Questions about further expansion, state sovereignty, jobs, agricultural trade subsidies by individual nations, Britain's refusal to adopt common currency (the Euro), and immigration

Chapter Objectives After studying this chapter, students should be able to: • identify characteristics of the EU that describe its diversity. • identify the most powerful members of the EU and the most dependent members. • describe the Three Pillars of the EU. • describe briefly the origins and development of the EU. • identify the representative elements of the EU. • identify the decision-making elements of the EU. • explain what is meant by the EU’s “democratic deficit.” • describe the most recent proposals for amending the EU treaties and explain why those proposals are controversial. • explain the relationship between national sovereignty and EU membership.

The European Union