Chpt. 40 The European Union Flashcards
What is the European Union?
—The EU = ‘club’ for European countries. Its members agree to join and to follow certain rules. Each member must pay a fee. In return they receive certain benefits, including the support and co-operation of fellow members.
Work together to achieve common goals.
What are the Main Aims of the European Union?
3 main aims:
1) Establish European citizenship
—protecting human rights and freedoms
2) Ensure freedom, security and justice for EU citizens
3) Promote economic and social progress
—involves the single market, the euro, environmental protection and social and regional development.
What is Shared Sovereignty?
Each country in the EU is willing to give up control over some parts of its Gov. in order to work with others to achieve common goals, standards and laws.
What are the Four Freedoms?
The free movement of goods, services, capital and people across the EU
What’s the European Council?
The European Council has meetings. Held regularly by EU heads of state (prime ministers, presidents, our taoiseach, etc.).
These meetings are used to set out priorities and the general plan for the development of the EU. Usually discuss major issues facing the EU (E.G: debt problems, migration and security concerns.)
What are the three main institutions in the EU?
(EU’s institutional triangle)
1) The European Commission
2) The European Parliament
3) The Council of the European Union
What does the European Commission do?
Commissioners are responsible for the day-to-day management of the EU.
Each member state has a commissioner who’s responsible for a particular area of EU policy (E.G: agriculture or transport)
What are the main functions of the European Commission?
1) Propose new laws. Works closely with the Parliament + Council of the EU to achieve this.
2) Enforce EU law.
3) Manage the EU’s budget.
4) Represent the EU internationally. E.g: environment commissioner attends international conferences on climate change.
How are members of the European Parliament chosen?
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are elected by EU citizens.
Each member state has a set number of MEPs based on its population. Elections take place every 5 years.
What does MEP stand for?
Members of the European Parliament
What’s the role of the European Parliament?
1) Represent EU citizens
2) Help introduce legislation
3) Approve the EU budget
Who attends the Council of the European Union?
Council members are government ministersfrom EU member states.
The membership of the Council depends on the topic being discussed
- E.g: finance ministers discuss budget issues. Agriculture ministers debate agricultural policy.
What are the main functions of the Council of the EU?
1) Set goals and co-ordinate policy
2) Pass laws
3) Approve the EU budget
4) Sign international agreements
What are the Economic Benefits of EU membership for Ireland?
1) Single European Market (SEM) allows free movement of goods, services, capital and citizens.
Larger market for exports.
Reduced costs for imports and exports
Less dependent on UK
No exchange rate risk
2) European Social fund (ESF)
Funds projects to improve skills of unemployed, helps to reduce poverty, social exclusion and discrimination.
3) Lower interest rates. Cheaper for Irish businesses to expand.
4) Ireland is an attractive location for foreign direct investment (FDI)
5) The Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) is a major source of funding for the Irish agricultural sector.
What are the Social benefits of EU membership for Ireland?
1) EU social policy has strengthened the rights of Irish consumers. E.g: producers of processed food must provide nutrition and allergy info. Strict safety requirements. Must have CE marking.
2) EU social policy has improved the rights of workers.
Improved health and safety, Set minimum wage* levels, Ensured better working conditions, Provided holiday entitlements.
3) Irish workers have better standard of livingdue to higher income levels.
4) Improved social conditions and rate highly on the Human Development Index (HDI). (measures life expectancy, education and standard of living.)
5) Workplace equality. Men and women get equal pay for equal work. Women get paid maternity leave. Men get paid paternity leave. Helped to increase the no. of working women in Ireland.
6) Consumers have greater choice
7) EU citizens - travel, work + learn freely in all member states without visas/travel permits
8) EU roaming costs reduced cost of receiving/making calls when traveling in EU countries
