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European Union

European Union. Principal Objectives. Establish European citizenship Ensure freedom, security & justice Promote economic and social progress Assert Europe’s role in the world. History of Unification. Early Attempts at Unity. Rome Charlemagne Holy Roman Empire Bourbons Habsburgs

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European Union

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  1. European Union

  2. Principal Objectives • Establish European citizenship • Ensure freedom, security & justice • Promote economic and social progress • Assert Europe’s role in the world

  3. History of Unification

  4. Early Attempts at Unity • Rome • Charlemagne • Holy Roman Empire • Bourbons • Habsburgs • Napoleon • Congress of Vienna/ Concert of Europe • Hitler

  5. Post WWII - Developments • European Coal and Steel Community – Treaty of Paris 1951 (W. Germany, France, Italy, Benelux) • European Economic Community – Common Market (later EC) – Treaty of Rome 1957 • UK, Denmark & Ireland join 1973 • Fall of Berlin Wall - 11/9/89 – Former East Germany integrated into EC Fall of Berlin Wall, November 9, 1989

  6. Maastricht Treaty 1992 – European Union

  7. Nations Added 1995 • Sweden • Finland • Austria

  8. Convergence

  9. Accession Criteria • Political • Stable transparent institution • Democracy, human rights, rule of law, respect minority rights • Support 3 pillars • Economic • Functioning market economy/withstand market forces • Low inflation • Stable currency and part of European monetary system • Debt less than 60% of GDP • Deficit less than 3% of GDP (Greece??)

  10. 2004 Enlargement • 13 states applied – 10 accepted • Central and eastern European nations • Czech Republic • Estonia • Hungary • Latvia • Lithuania • Poland • Slovakia • Slovenia • Malta • Cyprus

  11. 2007 Additions • Bulgaria • Romania • Up to 27 members

  12. EU Expansion 2013 Croatia joins EU as its 28th member in June 2013

  13. Institutions

  14. Executive – European Commission • President • Directs European focus • 5-year terms • Member states choose • Commissioners • Engine of integration • Propose legislation • EC Located in Brussels Belgium

  15. Legislative – Council of the European Union – Upper House • President • Rotates among countries every 6 months • Sets agenda • Should be even-handed • Antonis Samaras, Greece • Council of Ministers • Ministers from member states • Gets opinion from EP before decisions • Votes are weighted by population Located in Brussels, Belgium

  16. Legislative – European Parliament – Lower House • Members of European Parliament (MEP’s) • Directly elected reps (5 years) • Supervises the Commission • Seem to reflect national interests • President • Chairs EP • Represents EP - Located in Strasbourg, France

  17. Judicial – European Court of Justice • Ensures law observed in interpretation an application of treaties • Judicial review • Located in Luxembourg

  18. Currency

  19. Single Currency • Began as European Monetary Unit (EMU) as part of Maastricht Treaty • Euro - € - exchange rate set 1/1/99 • Euro adopted 1/1/2002 • Britain – not so much • Eurozone – 18 member states that have adopted the euro

  20. I knew you would ask

  21. You say you want a constitution? • Originally treaties formed EU constitution • Constitutional treaty proposed 2004 – rejected by Denmark and France in 2005 • Treaty of Lisbon: constitution-lite 2009 • Constitutional treaty adoption – UK referendum 2017?? – fears of federalism (United States of Europe?)

  22. Quick Review • Name two predecessor organizations of the EU. • What are the “3 pillars” of the EU? • What is the Eurozone? • What is the difference between the European Commission and the European Council? • What year did the Berlin Wall fall? • What is the Maastricht Treaty? • How many member states does the EU have now?

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