see also:
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Table of contents:
Concepts:
- Widening & Deepening: "The Commission's objective of "extending and deepening" the Customs Union (CU) was endorsed by EU Member States at the December 2002 Copenhagen Council"
Institutions & Treaties (forming the EU)
See our discussion on European Union Treaties - legal foundation for the EU
Nothing about the treaties can be thought of without FIRST remembering what was going on in Europe and the world
Before trying to memorize dates of treaties, make sure you first understand
- European Union - enlargement
- what were the key dates that countries joined the EU?
- what was going on in the world that made these countries WANT to join the EU (at that time)?
- Key events to remember:
- 1940's - war in Europe
- 1950's - cold war begins (war in the Koreas)
- 1960's - Vietnam war, Cold War escalates
- 1970's - oil crisis, Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates ends. Enlargement: UK, Ireland & Denmark all join the EU (then called the EEC)
- 1980's - Japan & US seen as economically pulling ahead of Europe. European desire to regain competitiveness leads to greater emphasis on "single market". Early 80's see the entrance of Greece. Mid 80's Spain & Portugal (after the end of dictatorships). Late 80's fall of Berlin Wall, nearing end of Cold War.
- 1990's- German reunification. USSR collapse. Eastern European countries turn toward West. New members to the EU (formally neutral countries of Austria, Sweden, Finland). Plans put in place for monetary union, and for the Euro (by 1999-2002)
- 2000's - Euro currency starts. 9/11 happens in New York, then Afghanistan & Iraq wars. In Europe there is a BIG enlargement of 10 new EU members in 2004, then 2 more in 2007. Attempts to approve a Constitution is rejected and then later repackaged (as the Lisbon treaty) and approved. Financial crisis hits in 2008. Fiscal and debt crisis in Europe starts in May 2010.
See our discussion on European Union Treaties - legal foundation for the EU
Institutions of the EU
Issues: National vs. Supra-national - Power sharing:
- The EU has exclusive charge over areas such as competition rules, monetary policy of the euro area and the common commercial policy.
- Member States have primary responsibility in fields such as health, education and industry.
- The EU and the Member States share competence in areas such as the internal market, agriculture, transport and energy.
The main institutions of the EU are:
There are 4 primary institutions: Parliament, Commission, Council of Ministers, THE European Council
- Two of which pull towards more power for the EU (federalist push, ever greater powers for Brussels - think "Supra-national"
- Two of which pull toward the national capitals (representing national interests, making sure the EU doesnt go to far in pulling power away from national capitals) - think "Inter-governmental"
Supra-national
- The European Parliament
- The European Commission
Inter-governmental
- The Council of the EU (also called "The Council", or "The Council of Ministers"
- The European Council
Others:
• The Court of Justice of the European Union
• The European Central Bank
• The Court of Auditors
Policy Process overview - How the institutions work together:
The European Commission is the only one that can initiate legislation. It submits its proposals to the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, to be approved or rejected.The parliament also has responsibility for supervising the 27 commissioners and is the only institution with the power to sack them. Commissioners are appointed by the Council of Ministers and then approved by the parliament.
European Commission
The European Commission is intended to represent, independently, the interests of the EU as a whole. The Commission is accountable to the European Parliament. It is the only EU institution with the general power to initiate proposals for legislation. The Commission also enforces the Union’s policies, ensures that the budget is implemented, manages EU programmes, represents the EU in international negotiations and makes sure that the treaties are applied properly. At the European Council meeting in December 2008, the Heads of State or Government agreed that the Commission would continue to consist of one national from each Member State.
Recent events:
EUROPE: Barroso Reelected
European parliament reelected European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to a second five-year term in office . Barroso, a former Portuguese prime minister, ran unopposed (BBC) for the position.
2010: Issues facing the Commission
1. Immigration: "In a partial climbdown, the European Commission said it would not sue France for racial discrimination over its expulsion of Romanies. But France (and other countries) will face action over failing to transpose EU law into national legislation.
2. Austerity -- Fiscal issues / budgets: "The European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, proposed legislation that would grant it more powers over member states’ public finances. José Manuel Barroso, its president, said the rules would include new rights to fine members for fiscal profligacy. The proposals are meant to help avoid another Greek-style crisis. They would need to be approved by EU governments in the European Council. See article "THEY came to Brussels this week in their tens of thousands, from Finland to Greece, to say no to austerity. Their message was simple: the poor and the workers are being made to pay for the sins of the bankers and the speculators. To judge from some banners, they may have a new category of enemy: Eurocrats." See article
The European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected EU institution that represents the citizens of the Member States. The Lisbon Treaty increases the number of areas where the European Parliament will share the job of lawmaking with the Council of Ministers and strengthens its budgetary powers. This sharing of power between the Parliament and the Council of Ministers is known as co-decision. Co-decision will become the ‘ordinary legislative procedure’. It will extend to new policy areas such as freedom, security and justice. This will reinforce the legislative powers of the European Parliament. The Lisbon Treaty will also give the European Parliament a bigger role in approving the EU’s budget.
The European Council
The European Council is made up of the most senior elected political representatives of the Member States — prime ministers and presidents with executive powers. It gives the EU its political direction and sets its priorities. Under the Lisbon Treaty, the European Council becomes a full EU institution and its role is clearly defined. A new position of President of the European Council is created. The President of the European Council will be elected by the members of the European Council and can serve for a maximum of fi ve years. He or she will chair Council meetings, drive forward its work on a continuous basis and represent the EU internationally at the highest level. This marks a change from the present system where Member States, holding the six-month EU Presidency, also chair the European Council. The new President of the European Council will make the EU’s actions more visible and consistent.
The Council (of Ministers)
The Council of the European Union (officially the Council and commonly referred to as the Council of Ministers; also calledConsilium as a Latin-language compromise): The Council of the European Union is also referred to as the Council of Ministers. It is made up of 27 government ministers representing each of the Member States. It is a key decision-making body that coordinates the EU’s economic policies and plays a central role in foreign and security policy. It shares lawmaking and budgetary powers with the European Parliament. Majority voting, rather than unanimous decisions, will become more common. A system known as ‘double majority’ will be introduced from 2014: Council decisions will need the support of 55 % of the Member States, representing at least 65 % of the European population. This system gives double legitimacy to decisions. A new development under the Lisbon Treaty is that the Council of Foreign Ministers will be chaired by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission. In other areas such as agriculture, finance and energy, the Council will continue to be chaired by the minister of the country holding the rotating six-month EU Presidency. This will make the EU Presidency system more coherent and effective.
Other Important Political figures
High Representative of the Union
for Foreign and Security Policy/Vice- President of the Commission A new position heading up the EU’s common foreign and security policy and common defence policy will be created under the Lisbon Treaty. The appointment of a High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy who is at the same time Vice-President in the Commission is a major new step. It combines two existing posts: the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy and the External Relations Commissioner. S/he will be appointed by the European Council and will chair the Council of Foreign Ministers while at the same time being a Vice-President of the European Commission. S/he will make proposals, carry out foreign policy on behalf of the Council, and represent the Union’s positions internationally. This is designed to help the EU to be better able to defend its interests and values on the international stage, and express itself with one voice.
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