Chapter 4 Flashcards
Qu’est-ce que l’Union européenne ?
L’Union européenne : un embryon d’Union politique entre 27 pays depuis la fin de décembre 2020
Un embryon d’Union politique (Traité de Lisbonne de 2009)
Un projet avancé d’union budgétaire (Traité de Maastricht de 1992)
Union monétaire de 20 pays autour de l’euro (créé en 1999)
fiche d’identité de l’Union européenne
L’UE est une association de 27 États européens qui s’étend sur un territoire de 4,2 M km² et est peuplée de 447 millions d’habitants (depuis le Brexit : décembre 2020)
Comparativement, la Chine : 9,7 M km² et 1,4 milliard d’habitants
Comparativement les Etats Unis : 9,4 M km² et 328 millions d’habitants
L’UE est régie par le Traité de l’Union européenne dans sa version du 1er décembre 2009 (Traité de Lisbonne)
Les principales institutions de l’Union européenne
Le Parlement européen élu au suffrage universel direct
Le Conseil européen (Président : Charles Michel, Belgique)
Le Conseil des ministres composé de représentants des États membres
La Commission européenne élue par le Parlement sur proposition du Conseil des ministres (Ursula Von der Leyen)
Le Cour de justice (CJUE) chargée de veiller à l’application du droit de l’UE
The organs and procedures of the European Union’s Common Commercial Policy (CCP)
the Commission, the Council of Ministers, and the Trade Policy Committee (TPC) (or CDC in French)
The Commission is responsible for proposing positions and negotiating with partners, while the Council of Ministers provides projects and proposals to the Commission and approves or disapproves of agreements. The TPC, a consultative body, is an essential component of the relationship between the Commission and the Council. The EU’s Commissioner for Trade is responsible for the EU’s external trade policy and represents the EU in organizations such as the WTO.
Le Tarif douanier commun (ou TEC)
Common Customs Tariff (CCT)
Tarif Exterieur Commun (TEC)
The CCT was adopted in June 1968, originally as a simple average of the tariffs then in force. Since 1968, it has been regularly modified to take account of tariff negotiations with third countries.
The adoption of the CCT results in the substitution of Community competence for that of Member States in tariff negotiations with third countries.
Les instruments de la politique commerciale commune : les mesures anti dumping
The instruments of the Common Commercial Policy include anti-dumping measures, which are regulated by a 1988 regulation. Complaints can be initiated by a professional sector or a Member State on behalf of national interests. After examining the complaint, the Commission decides whether to open an investigation or not. The anti-dumping measures also apply to imported components and spare parts. In addition, safeguard measures can be applied in case of traffic diversion or economic difficulties in one or more Member States. Finally, auto-limitation agreements can be concluded with third countries to protect sensitive sectors, such as the former Multifiber Arrangement for the textile sector.
Some challenges of the CCT:
“Tarif douanier commun” or “TDC”
The liberalization of trade has increased constraints on the European economy, and the low level of the Common Customs Tariff (currently around 3%) is below the threshold of economic effectiveness. This undermines the ability of the CCT to influence import prices within the EU. The preference for community goods is regularly criticized and attacked, especially by countries like the United States. Additionally, the agreements with African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries (ACP) have been contested by third parties, such as the United States, which want to dismantle exceptions to the general regime. The banana trade case is an example of such a dispute.
What are some external weaknesses faced by the EU?
the fact that the EU is the most open zone in the world and has dangerous dependencies on certain resources, such as energy and rare minerals.
The EU’s commercial presence is also largely in areas of low growth compared to the US and China.
What are some internal strengths of the EU?
Internally, the EU benefits from the importance of intra-zone trade and the increase of intra-industry trade. However, the density of cross-border flows accentuates the parallelism of national economies, which can have a negative impact on their performance.
What are the impacts of a strong euro?
a strong Euro can increase the credibility and reputation of Europe, but it can also negatively affect the trade of EU27 Extra.
In general, a strong currency can be beneficial for a country as it makes imports cheaper and can attract foreign investment. It can also give a sense of stability and confidence in the country’s economy. However, a strong currency can make exports more expensive and less competitive in international markets, which can harm the country’s export-dependent industries.
What are the impacts of a weak euro?
a weak Euro can improve competitiveness but may decrease confidence in the Eurozone.
a weak currency can make exports cheaper and more competitive, which can boost the country’s export-dependent industries. It can also encourage domestic consumption and tourism as imported goods and services become more expensive. However, a weak currency can lead to higher inflation as imported goods become more expensive, and it can also discourage foreign investment as it reduces the perceived stability of the country’s economy.
What are some things that are causing a fracture or a divide in Europe?
The arrival of new members in waves has made it difficult to harmonize trade policies. There are significant inequalities between countries due to rapid and uncontrolled expansion.
Moreover, there are many ideological and political divides within the EU. The liberal group, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark, are traditionally open to free trade. The protectionist countries are located in the South of Europe. The defenders of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are France, Ireland, and Belgium. The UK had been hostile to integration and aligned with US positions.
Finally, the latecomer countries in Eastern Europe advocate for the financial solidarity of Western Europe and the security protection of the United States.
How is the the European Union’s commercial policy being condemned to conservatism?
One of the reasons for this is the transparency of the EU’s decision-making process. Unlike some other countries, the EU cannot afford to keep its negotiations and agreements secret.
The EU must also deal with internal conflicts, such as disagreements over energy markets or agricultural policies. As a result, EU policies tend to be the product of compromises, which can lead to a lack of innovation in the policy-making process.
Additionally, with 27 member states, any proposal made by one country is subject to the opinions of the others, which can result in a slow and cumbersome process.
Finally, the EU’s commercial policy is adaptive, meaning that the EU tries to find a compromise between conflicting interests to avoid internal tensions.
