4 - History and Institutions Flashcards
First enlargement
in the 1973, GB, Ireland and Denmark
Second enlargement
Mediterranean states (Greece in 1981 and 1986 Spain and Portugal)
Single European Act
environmental policies, foreign market cooperation, high expenditure on regional development (cohesion policies)
Creation of a single currency
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
The structure of the Maastricht treaty
- 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
Principles of the Maastricht Treaty
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
Principle of Subsidiarity
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
Effect of Central European enlargement
the accession of so many relatively poor countries with large agricultural sectors had a major effect on CAP and cohesion policy
Lisbon Treaty 2007
- 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
The European Commission members
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
European Commission elections
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
How the commission is organized
Two branches:
- College of commissioners (executive commission)
- administrative commission (its permanent services)
Commissioner responsibilities
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
The European Commission Tasks
Right to initiate legislation (many come from outside from lobbyists)
Representative of the general EU interests
Competition Authority for the single market
The size of the commission
30 DGs or services, the commissions officials are approximately 33,000
High representative for Foreign and Security Policy
the Lisbon treaty merged 2 previously separated posts
Also the vice-president of the commission
The Council of the EU: Tasks and Configurations
- decides EU laws and budget together with Parliament
- manages the common foreign and security policy
The Council Presidency
rotates each 6 months, take turns to chair council meetings, the chair of the council decides whether and when to call a vote
Who composes the council?
It meets in different configurations based on the policy being discussed
Qualified Majority Voting
55% of states (intergovernative) represent 65% of the population (federal principle)
The Committee of Permanent Representatives COREPER
ambassadors to the EU
prepare the work of the Council, much of the substance of EU policy is decided at this level
Two parts of COREPER
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
European council
Comprised of Heads of State or Government of the MS plus the President of the Commission
The high representative can participate but not vote
The Presidency of the European Council
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
European Council Tasks
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
The European Parliament Organization
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
The European Parliament Powers
Legislative
Scrutiny
Appointments
EP legislative powers
codecides EU legislation with the council
can approve or reject international treaties with a yes-no vote
EP powers of scrutiny
right to hear and cross-examine commissioners, ministers, and civil servants
EP powers of appointments
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
The EP: examples of squeezing powers
- 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
European Court of Justice: Organization
27 judges for six-year renewable terms and 11 advocates general
European Court of Justice: Tasks
applies and interprets EU treaties
enforces EU law
final arbiter in disputes
right to fine MS that breach EU law
Directive
a frame for national legislation
Rule
direct application, similar to a law
Van Gend en Loos case (direct effect)
a law of the EU needs to be applied directly in every European state
Costa v. ENEL (Supremacy of the EU)
EU law prevails over national law
Cassis De Dijon case (Principle of Mutual Recognition)
a product made and sold legally in one MS cannot be barred in another MS if there is no threat
Relations between EU institutions
- 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
Why institutions matter
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
Enlargement’s institutional impact
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
Historical elements which influence the EU
Economics: the Euro and GDP
History: West/East, year of adhesion
Geography: north/south
