class 3 Flashcards
explain the amsterdam treaty
(1997)wanted to change the rules of the EU
more flexibility?
signed in October 1997, came into effect on May 1st 1999
widening: established an area of freedom, security and justice because smuggling, drug trafficking etc
deepening :
- more qualified majority voting
- increased influence of the EU - parliament
who is Jacques Santer? and how many commissioners resigned on marh 15th 1999
Luxembourgish politician and president of the commission from 1995-1999, 20
how were the commissioners separated among the member states in 1995-1999?
2 commissioners for the big 5 and one for the 10 others
who was romano pradi?
president of commission from 1999-2004 and former PM of Italy, only did one period and was remembered for the product of the fall of the berlin wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union
name the application for EU membership after the collapse of the Soviet Union (10) HELLS CC PMS
cyprus - 1990
czech republic - 1996
estonia - 1995
hungary - 1994
latvia - 1995
lithuania - 1995
malta - 1990
poland - 1994
slovakia - 1995
slovenia - 1996
what are the decision based on?
identity-based but tough criteria is more of an instrumentalist action
what is the copenhagen criteria?
a) the political criteria: well-functioning democracy, rule of law, human rights, and respect for and protection of minorities
b) the economic criteria: existence if a functioning market economy (eg. can’t have a budget deficit of more than 3% like France and Germany)
c) acquis communautaire: legislation (everything the EU has decided needs to be accepted by the incomin countries, no exemptions)
what were the referendums in 2003 for the applications of the EU memberships? (5th) HELLS C PMS
Czech Republic 77% - June
Estonia 66% - September
Hungary 83% - April
latvia 67.7%- September
lithuania 91%- May
malta53% - March
poland 77%- June
slovakia 92.5%- May
slovenia 89.6% - March
may 2004: 15 members to 25 EU members
explain the treaty of nice
Was to reform the institutional structure of the European Union to with stand the challenges of the new enlargement. With the Treaty of Nice, Parliament’s legislative and supervisory powers are increased and qualified-majority voting is extended to more areas within the Council.
- signed in February 2001
ratification problems again (denmark said the Eu hadn’t changed, just admitting new members but Ireland had a referendum. (54% in Ireland voted no in June 2001) embarrassment for political leadership then in october 2002 63% voted yes
came on feb 1st 2003 in time for the 5th enlargement
what happened in 2004
a busy year or business as usual
a ‘big bang’ enlarhement in may
constitutional treaty signed in november
establishment of a new commission in november
jose manuel barrosso (former PM of Portugal) (2004-2014) served two periods
nb. the president is a commissioner
