4 - History and Institutions

Question 1

First enlargement

Answer 1

in the 1973, GB, Ireland and Denmark

Question 2

Second enlargement

Answer 2

Mediterranean states (Greece in 1981 and 1986 Spain and Portugal)

Question 3

Single European Act

Answer 3

environmental policies, foreign market cooperation, high expenditure on regional development (cohesion policies)

Question 4

Creation of a single currency

Answer 4

part of trying to control the growth of a re-unified Germany
Denmark and GB opted out because they didn’t want further political integration
Euro is a private currency

Question 5

The structure of the Maastricht treaty

Answer 5

• European Commission
• Council of the EU (1 minister from each MS), legislative power
• European Council (heads of states/prime ministers), assured agenda setting
• European Parliament (elected) legislative powers
• Court of Justice
  COREPER: committee of the permanent representatives of the MS

Question 6

Principles of the Maastricht Treaty

Answer 6

1) comprise European Community and European monetary union
2) common foreign and security policy
3) cooperation on justice and home affairs, asylum and criminal matters

Question 7

Principle of Subsidiarity

Answer 7

The EU does not take action (except in areas that fall within its exclusive competencies) unless it is more effective than action taken at the national, regional, or local level

Question 8

Effect of Central European enlargement

Answer 8

the accession of so many relatively poor countries with large agricultural sectors had a major effect on CAP and cohesion policy

Question 9

Lisbon Treaty 2007

Answer 9

• abolished the three pillar structure
• High Minister changed to High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy
• co-decision procedure changed to the ordinary legislative procedure

Question 10

The European Commission members

Answer 10

27 from each country (Lisbon treaty)
26 discussed between president in charge and the prime minister of the state
1 high representative for foreign security policy

Question 11

European Commission elections

Answer 11

The European Council appoints the commission president, EP gives a vote of confidence
The commission must present itself to the EP for a vote of confidence

Question 12

How the commission is organized

Answer 12

Two branches:
- College of commissioners (executive commission)
- administrative commission (its permanent services)

Question 13

Commissioner responsibilities

Answer 13

all the commissioners have their own private offices of around 7 personal advisors
each commissioner is responsible for one or more Directorate General (DGs) or services which relate to your portfolio

Question 14

The European Commission Tasks

Answer 14

Right to initiate legislation (many come from outside from lobbyists)
Representative of the general EU interests
Competition Authority for the single market

Question 15

The size of the commission

Answer 15

30 DGs or services, the commissions officials are approximately 33,000

Question 16

High representative for Foreign and Security Policy

Answer 16

the Lisbon treaty merged 2 previously separated posts
Also the vice-president of the commission

Question 17

The Council of the EU: Tasks and Configurations

Answer 17

• decides EU laws and budget together with Parliament
• manages the common foreign and security policy

Question 18

The Council Presidency

Answer 18

rotates each 6 months, take turns to chair council meetings, the chair of the council decides whether and when to call a vote

Question 19

Who composes the council?

Answer 19

It meets in different configurations based on the policy being discussed

Question 20

Qualified Majority Voting

Answer 20

55% of states (intergovernative) represent 65% of the population (federal principle)

Question 21

The Committee of Permanent Representatives COREPER

Answer 21

ambassadors to the EU
prepare the work of the Council, much of the substance of EU policy is decided at this level

Question 22

Two parts of COREPER

Answer 22

COREPER II - permanent ambassadors who deal with big political, institutional, and budgetary issues
COREPER I - led by deputy Ambassadors who deal with most other issues

Question 23

European council

Answer 23

Comprised of Heads of State or Government of the MS plus the President of the Commission
The high representative can participate but not vote

Question 24

The Presidency of the European Council

Answer 24

chosen for 2 and a half years
needs to be a former president or prime minister of a European state, elected by the 27 members of the European Council

Question 25

European Council Tasks

Answer 25

general political guidelines for the EU
nominate the president of the commission and the high representative
most intergovernative institution
set agendas and resolve problems not agreed upon at the lower level

Question 26

The European Parliament Organization

Answer 26

751 members in proportion to population
sit in political groups
the leaders of each political group constitute the Conference of Presidents which sets the EP’s agenda
22 standing committees organized by policy area

Question 27

The European Parliament Powers

Answer 27

Legislative
Scrutiny
Appointments

Question 28

EP legislative powers

Answer 28

codecides EU legislation with the council
can approve or reject international treaties with a yes-no vote

Question 29

EP powers of scrutiny

Answer 29

right to hear and cross-examine commissioners, ministers, and civil servants

Question 30

EP powers of appointments

Answer 30

Appoints the president of the commission and approves the appointment of the commission and can dismiss the whole through a vote of no confidence
Elects the European Ombudsman

Question 31

The EP: examples of squeezing powers

Answer 31

• budgetary powers can cover spending only and not taxation - the power to sign off or not on the annual budget
• can dismiss the commission as a whole - forced replacement of candidates for commissioner has occurred

Question 32

European Court of Justice: Organization

Answer 32

27 judges for six-year renewable terms and 11 advocates general

Question 33

European Court of Justice: Tasks

Answer 33

applies and interprets EU treaties
enforces EU law
final arbiter in disputes
right to fine MS that breach EU law

Question 34

Directive

Answer 34

a frame for national legislation

Question 35

Rule

Answer 35

direct application, similar to a law

Question 36

Van Gend en Loos case (direct effect)

Answer 36

a law of the EU needs to be applied directly in every European state

Question 37

Costa v. ENEL (Supremacy of the EU)

Answer 37

EU law prevails over national law

Question 38

Cassis De Dijon case (Principle of Mutual Recognition)

Answer 38

a product made and sold legally in one MS cannot be barred in another MS if there is no threat

Question 39

Relations between EU institutions

Answer 39

• the ability of the council to impose its view has declined as bargaining power of the EP has increased
• the European Councils right to set an agenda has usurped the Commission’s right of initiative
• The President of the European Council challenges the primacy of the President of the Commission

Question 40

Why institutions matter

Answer 40

1) Experimentation and change - gaps in the capacity of the EU lead to expansion of informal powers
2) Power-sharing and consensus - pendulum between intergovernative and supranational solutions
3) scope and capacity - political cooperation has expanded without expanding the powers of the institutions

Question 41

Enlargement’s institutional impact

Answer 41

Parliament’s impact is growing
the commission is weaker than in the past
the council sometimes finds it hard to find the majority, cannot solve all of the problems it is called to solve

Question 42

Historical elements which influence the EU

Answer 42

Economics: the Euro and GDP
History: West/East, year of adhesion
Geography: north/south