Constructing Europe Flashcards
How can the EP hold the Commission to account ?
- vote of o confidence can force to resign (2/3 vote - QMV)
- choosing commissioner : spitzenkandidat
- EP can vote against a law = legislator power
Art 17(7) European Council has to take into account EP’s outcome for proposition of Commission’s President
What is Neofunctionalism ? What is Intergovernmentalism ? What does the Commission’s role prescribe to ?
Neofunctionalism = theory of regional integration that emphasizes the role of supranational institutions and the gradual transfer of sovereignty from national governments to these institutions as a result of functional spillover
Intergovernmentalism = theory of integration that focuses on the role of national governments as the primary actors in the integration process, => EU= forum of discussion not supranational
Commission = Principal Agent Relationship with MS (Agent = Commission bc supposed to work for MS , MS = principle)
What is the Coreper ?
Permanent representatives, body of the council of the EU, prepare meetings & négociations, find areas of disagreement
Coreper I : the chill ones eg environment, transport, education
Coreper II : more sensitive, foreign and general affairs, economics, justice
I and II meet every week
What is the Commission’s hybrid structure (2 legs/arms) ?
Administrative leg : DGs, services
Political leg : Commissioners & their cabinet
MEP : how are they elected and who do they represent ?
Every MS has its own electoral system, elections every 5 years (national vs regional…)
Usually member of political party
Represents the MS citizens
Commission’s role ?
Mediator, right of legislative initiation, guardian of the treaty, implementation, external representation of the EU
Presidency of the Council ?
Trio presidency, MS represents for 6 months (so every 13.5 years),
Before Spain, Now Belgium, next Hungary
Optional : Belgium’s agenda : ‘protect, strengthen, prepare’ => rule of law, competitiveness, green, global europe
What is the Council ? (Who, how many, role)
Governments, rotating presidency (except Foreign affairs) = Council of Ministers
Role : legislative, budget, coordination
10 configurations (the main ones are) :
- Agriculture and Fisheries (AGFISH)
- Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN)
- Foreign Affairs (FAC - presided by High Representative)
=> works horizontally w General Affairs
- Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)
Rapporteurs vs shadow rapporteurs ?
Inside committees, amend the proposal of the Commission to be presented for plenary vote
Are MEPs obviously
Rapporteurs = biggest party, ‘leads’ the project to be presented
Shadow rapporteurs = other figure 1 per other other party
=> 6 shadow rapporteurs
What are the Copenhagen criteria ?
1993 A set of political and economic conditions for membership of the EU
Political criteria : stability of institutions, guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, respect for and protection of minorities
Economic criteria : functioning market economy and capacity to cope w competition and market forces
Administrative and institutional capacity to effectively implement the acquis communautaires , ability to take on the obligations of membership (absorption capacity ???)
What is Euroscepticism ? (Two dimensions)
Criticism of the EU
Hard : opposed to the entire European integration process, “principled opposition”
Soft : only opposed to specific aspect of integration, “qualified opposition
=> eg : loss of sovereignty, struggle btw European and national identity, agricultural policy
Name the 5 enlargement rounds ? The details are not in this card so don’t push it too far
Say the date/number of countries if you feel like a show-off
Northern Enlargement (1973) (+3)
Mediterranean Enlargement (1981 & 1986) (+3)
EFTA Enlargement (1995) (+3)
Eastern Enlargement (2004 & 2007) (+11)
Balkan Enlargement (2013) (+1)
Northern Enlargement (date, countries, characteristics)
1973 : UK, Denmark, Ireland
Defined subsequent accession round
Asymmetrical relationship btw EU and applicant (weaker position)
Denmark & UK = 2 eurosceptic countries
De Gaulle vetoed twice UK accession before 1973
Mediterranean Enlargement (date, countries, characteristics)
1981 Greece + 1986 Portugal & Spain
Political & symbolic significance that membership had for 3 countries that had just completed transition to democracy
Commitment to democracy : fundamental requirement
Require financial support : NOT NET CONTRIBUTORS
Asymmetric relationship
EFTA Enlargement (date, countries, characteristics)
1995 : Austria, Finland, Sweden
Least controversial round bc 3 countries were wealthy established democracies that became net contributors to the EU budget
Eastern Enlargement (date, countries…, characteristics)
2004 : Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia
2007 : Bulgaria, Romania
- Most complex round => EU’s response to collapse of communism, symbolic
- EU regarded enlargement as tool to implement its commitment to democracy and stability promotion
- Security and economic benefits
- Symbolism prevented opposition/veto from MS
- Spain & Port feared shift of EU financial support to East
Balkan Enlargement (date, countries, characteristics)
2013 : Croatia
- Western Balkans : unstable region, democractic governance challenged by years of ethnic conflict, political polarization, corruption
- still corruption and organized crime
- EU challenged on different fronts (eco crisis, rise eurosceptic populist parties, refugee crisis, Brexit, pandemic…)
=> EU enlargement no longer a priority
Treaty of Paris (date, main creation)
Treaty of Paris signed April 1951
Created European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) => pooling of Coal and steel under High Authority (decision-maker)
OG Triangle :
- Council of Ministers
- High Authority
- Common assembly (national parliament put some in it as part time job)
The 6 : Benelux, Fr, Gr, Ita
Treaty of Rome (date, main creation)
Treaties of Rome signed March 1957
Creation European Economic Community (EEC) : establishment of a common market
& European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC/Euratom) : common market for nuclear materials in Europe
Creation Council of the EEC => council of the EU now
Single European Act (date, creation)
1986, single market, relaunch european integration
Maastricht Treaty (date, main creation, Pillar structure ?)
Signed February 1992, entry into force November 1993
Modifications to Treaty of Rome
Main innovations :
- creation EU (+ European Citizenship)
- co-decision procedure EP-Council
- extension QMV within Council
- (establishment Common Foreign and Security Policy - CFSP)
Pillar structure from Maastricht to Amsterdam :
- Pillar I : The European Communities (ECC, ECSC, EAEC) - supranational
- Pillar II : Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) - intergovernmental
- Pillar III : Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) - intergovernmental
Treaty of Amsterdam (date, main innovations, pillar)
1997/1999, made amendment to TEU & TFEU
Main innovations :
- Strengthening of rights of Eu citizens,
- Creation enhanced cooperation (deeper cooperation btw MS who wish to)
- enlargement and simplification co-decision + extension QMV
- creation post of High Representative (see card on it)
Pillar structure (Amsterdam to Lisbon) :
- Pillar I : European Communities (ECC, ECSC, EAEC)
- Pillar II : Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
- Pillar III : Police and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (PJCCM)
Treaty of Nice (date, main innovations)
Signed February 2001, entry into force February 2003
Amendments on TEU & TFEU
Innovations :
- limited extension QMV
- redefinition number Commissioners by MS (did it actually work ? No clue)
- strengthening powers of President of the Commission
- improvement EU judicial system
What are the 2 treaties rejected / didn’t entry into force ?
1952 : European Defence Community Treaty => rejected
2004 : Treaty establishing Constitution for Europe (CT) => rejected
What would a demoi-cratic think of the election of Ursula Von Der Leyen ?
Demoi-cratic = thinks 2 democracies (represent MS & citizens)
Good because :
- nominated by European Council (represent MS - idea of Macron)
- vote by EP (represents the citizens of MS)
Parliamentarization would say no bc Council didn’t choose a spitzenkandidat for candidate
European Council (structure, objectives, history, president, how are decisions taken ? )
Meets 4 times a year - can have emergency session (eg Russia, Covid…)
Head of MS, president of the Commission (VDL), High Representative
1974 : informal status, 1992 formal status, 2009 official EU institution
Role/ obj :
- overall direction and political directions - NO LEGISLATIVE POWER
- Deal with complex and sensitive issues that can’t be resolved at lower level
- set EU Common foreign and security policy
President : Charles Michel (Belgium), appointed for 2.5 renewable once
Decisions taken by consensus
What was the Constitutional Treaty ? What was the purpose ? Why not ratified by some ? Who ratified ?
Constitution supposed to make EU easier, would’ve assembled all treaties/ replaced them
=> process of creation clear but no attention paid to it
Accepted/ ratified by Gr & Spain
NL & Fr rejected :
- concerns of loss of sovereignty
- underlining national problems (general negative attitude)
- not about the content of the constitution itself but the framework - constitutional language
Internal strategies to avoid referendums for Lisbon (fear of losing it)
Denmark : avoided thanks to one of their article (20) => change in constitution need referendum but Lisbon ‘just a treaty’
NL & Fr : played it like not big deal, just another treaty, fear of losing if another referendum
Spa & Lux : easily won CT referendum, no need since Lisbon more modest than CT
Poland & Czech Rep : didn’t have referendum for CT year, no need for the second one
General = trying to make Lisbon looks modest and not constitutional (no big deal)
3 reasons that helped countries running away from problem linked to referendum CT =/= Lisbon
3 reasons :
- Collusion btw governments at European level
- national electoral calendars (easier to go through)
- less attention in the domestic areas => dépolitisation
Overall : multiple governments colluding to avoid public opinion impacting the treaty, (avoid public opinion = avoiding referendum),
Lisbon Treaty (date, main creation/improvement)
Signed December 2007, entry into action December 2009
Kept 5 protocols used in CT without the constitutional language :
=> role of parliaments, subsidiarity & proportionality, Eurogroup permanent structured cooperation, EU’s planned accession to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
Clarified EU policies competences : align into exclusive, shared, supporting
Lisbon : made EU more efficient, strengthening powers of national and EP, European Council President, High Representative, 3 pillar union dissolved in one framework, new emphasis on values and rights, citizen initiative, QMV, addressing democratic deficit (in other card)
+ RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL (ART 50)
Lisbon Treaty 2 (creation of Treaty, ratification, revision procedure, 3 main things addressing democratic deficit)
Creation of Treaty
- commission -> IGC (EP not in it, representatives from MS, council presidency moderate and coordinates, commission aware of interests of MS)
3 main things addressing democratic deficit :
- strengthening role of EP
- European citizen initiative
- involvement of national parliament
Ratification :
- réflexion period after Irish defeat of referendum -> crisis legitimacy
- Good european thought Eu in crisis, complained abt gvnt
Revision procedure :
- Ordinary Revision Procedure = commission proposal -> IGC -> revision
- Simplified Revision Procedure = making it easier, used in extremely limited circumstances, changes to treaty can be made by unanimity in EP (eg used to include a mention to Stability Mechanism by altering art 136 - do we give a fuck ? No)
Who/what represents the Commission, the Council, and the European Parliament.
EU = system of “institutional balance” in which :
- Commission represents the Community interests
- ** Council** represents the Member state interest
- European Parliament represents the European citizens interest
What is the ‘trias politics’ (distributed power) of the EU ?
EU legislator : Council (MS) and EP (citizens)
EU judiciary : Court of justice of the EU (& national courts)
EU executive : European Commission
What are the seven formal EU institutions ? Listed in the TEU
1) European Parliament
2) European Commission
3) Council of the EU
4) European Council
5) Court of Justice of the EU
6) ECB
7) Court of Auditors
Define acquis communautaire ?
A French term that refers literally to the Community patrimony. It is the cumulative body of the objectives, substantive rules, policies, and, in particular, the primary and secondary legislation and case law—all of which form part of the legal order of the EU. It includes the content of the treaties, legislation, judgments by the Court of Justice of the European Union, and international agreements. All member states are bound to comply with the acquis communautaire.
Which treaty prepared for EU enlargement ?
Although it was intended that the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) would introduce institutional reform in preparation for enlargement, it largely failed to do so. It was the Treaty of Nice (2001) that paved the way for European enlargement.
Give me a sort of definition of Europeanization
Combines :
- EU influence on MS policy & processes
- MS influence on EU policy & processes
- EU influence on 3rd country policy & processes
Define ‘downloading’
Downloading = process through which the EU influences the domestic level
Define ‘uploading’
Uploading = process through which the MS influence the EU level
What is external Europeanization
Export of a european model of governance
How can you describe the effect europeanization has had on MS ?
Differential Europeanization
Link a letter to a number
1) top down - rational choice institutionalism A) bargaining power
2) top down - sociological institutionalism B) changing opportunity structures
3) bottom-up - rational intergovernmental. C) logic of appropriateness
4) bottom-up - constructivist intergovernmental D) power of argument
1-B = top down - rational choice institutionalism = changing opportunity structures
2-C = top down - sociological institutionalism = logic of appropriateness
3-A = bottom up - rational intergovernmental = bargaining power
4-D = bottom up - constructivist intergovernmental = power of argument
4 different types of eurosceptic in Parliaments
Absentee = empty chair strategy
Public orator = Noisy opposition
Pragmatist = involved in limited and instrumental way
Participant = compromising their eurosceptic convictions without being able to influence the legislative process on sensitive issues still low influence in parliament
Brack
Three ideal conceptions of the EU (Sjursen’s paper)
1) Problem-solving entity
2) Value-based community (=sharing the same values)
3) Right-based post national union (rights)
3 main things addressing democratic deficit in Lisbon treaty
- strengthening role of EP
- European citizen initiative
- involvement of national parliament
Different steps of the accession process (no clue how much details we’re supposed to know)
- Copenhagen Criteria
- Formal application
- negotiations based on four steps:
1) “Screening” process → detailed examination of the policy in the involved country by Commission
2) association agreement
3) opening the negotiations led by presidency
↕
No negotiation power by the candidate country:
It is the EU that evaluates the country and decides
whether they’re coming in or not
4) Submission of approval of accession by Council
5) Outcome of ratification
=>Nothing is done by majority, everything is done united
↳ when the Commission “prepares an opinion” and recommends the Council:
Position of the EU as a whole
Politics vs Polity vs Policy
Politics : process by which a group of people determines “who gets what, when, and how” (Laswell 1935)
Polity : specific form of government of a social organization; a politically organized unit. The institutional framework in which politics and policy are made
Policy : action or inaction by public authorities facing choices btw alternative courses of action
Different types of votes in the Council
QMV, Unanimity, simple majority, consensus
Role of the Parliament
Co-legislator, budgetary, represent the people, supervisory role
What are the key dynamics of European Integration
Council and Commission
The way the Council functions :
What are the respective functions of the Coreper, Working Group, General Secretariat ?
Preparatory body of the Council = Coreper (Commitee of Permanent Representatives)
Workhorse of the Council = Working Groups
Administrative Backbone of the Council = General Secretariat
In which read of the European Integration are there no legislative acts ?
Foreign policy
Since which treaty has the QMV been the default setting
Lisbon
Which of the following is the most common EU act :
- Directives
- Decisions
- Regulation
- Recommandation & opinions
Directives
Commission sends draft/proposal to who (during OLP) ?
EP & Council = co-legislator, AND national Parliaments (test subsidiarity)
What is the European Semester ? (I think its optional)
Economic plans & performance of MS are subject to review and recommandations at EU level
When did EU MS first agree to some common goals & guidelines in economic policy ?
Maastricht (TEU)
Which of the following is not a feature of the Policy Coordination ?
- uniformly implemented
- decentralized approach to policy-making
- benchmarking of best practice
- voluntary
Uniformly implemented
Which of the following theories provides an explanation for the member states’ acceptance of Eastern enlargement?
- Neofunctionalism
- liberal intergovernmentalism
- social constructivism
- none
Social constructivism
According to the ‘new approach’ to enlargement unveiled in 2011, which chapters will be amongst the first to be opened ?
- Social policy and employment
- agriculture and fisheries
- law chapters
- agriculture and fundamental rights
Law chapters
Which enlargement round was the most complex for the EU ?
Eastern enlargement
Which country has twice rejected membership of the EU in two referenda ?
- Croatia
- iceland
- Norway
- UK
Norway
Is support for enlargement low or high for :
- MS
- candidate countries
Support for enlargement is low in both MS and candidate countries
When did Croatia hold its referendum on EU membership ?
- 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 ?
January 2012
The rise in what is a key factor holding up the enlargement process ?
- bilateral disputes
- soft power
- supranational decision-making
- twinning projects
Bilateral disputes
The main structures of the European Commission
President : represents externally, elected
Commissioners : 1/MS, expertise in portfolios, operate as the core decision-making body, debating
Vice presidents : executive and non-executives, including HR = total of 8 vice presidents
Cabinets : facilitating commissioner’s decision-making process, at least 3 =/= nationalities, chef cabinet not same nationality as Commissioner
Departments (DGs) : organized thematically by policy areas, (eg agriculture, defence, education, economics & finance, migration, justice…)
Entire name of the High representative, who, role, positions in different institutions/part of the EU
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (“HR/VP”)
- rn : Josep Borrell since 2019 (spanish guy)
Roles
- Vice president of the Commission
- President of the FAC
- Head of the European External Action Service (EEAS)
(Has some role in the General secretariat but idk what)
The 5 steps of the policy cycle
- agenda setting : identifying problem
- policy formulation : options, defines problem, european commission w ‘right of initiative’
- Decision : adopting final decision, trilogies, OLP
- Implementation : decision into effect, national authorities (commission can assist, since Lisbon Commission has ‘implementing acts’)
- Evaluation : reviewing outcomes, identifying modifications, final stage and/or beginning of new cycle
J1 - When did the EP start being elected by the citizens of the EU ?
OG parliament = consultative assembly w members appointed by national parliament
It became directly elected by EU citizens in 1979 (Simone Veil first president <3)
J2 - What are the origins of the EP ?
The EP traces its origins back to the 1950s in ECSC and EEC (predecessors of EU)
J3- How can the EP hold the Commission to account
Dismissal of the college of commissioners (2/3 vote or QMV)
Spitzenkandidaten system
Co-legislator
J3- what sort of legislative power does the EP hold ?
OLP/trilogies - EP can veto legislation
special legislative procedures
Consultative
J5- Who does the Commission represent ? What is its role ?
European Commission represents the EU as a whole
Commission acts as
- executive branch of the EU
- responsible for proposing legislation
- implementing EU policies and decisions
- enforcing EU law
- representing the EU in international négociations
J6 - who does the EP represent ? What is its role ?
EP represents citizens of the EU
Parliament = directly elected legislative body of the EU, representing interestis of EU citizens
+ legislative
+ supervisory
+ budgetary powers
=> shares legislative authority w Council (of the EU)
J7 - who does the Council represent ? What is its role ?
Council of the EU represents the governments of the EU MS
Council =
- main decision body of the Eu (along w EP)
- represents the MS interests & coordinates their policies
- shares legislative and budgetary authority w EP
J8 - How do you become an MEP ? What/who do you represent ?
MEPs elected through election every 5 years
Elections in all EU MS and each country has its own electoral system
Members of political parties (national-level politics)
Represent the citizens of their MS
J9 - who are rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs ? What do they do ?
Rapporteurs are MEP’s appointed by parliamentary committees to prepare reports on legislative proposals or other significant issues within Committee’s competence. They engage in négociations with representatives of other EU institutions.
Shadow rapporteurs are MEPs appointed by political groups in the EP to monitor and scrutinize the work of the rapporteur from the opposing political group
J10 - What is the Council of Ministers ? How is it structured ?
The Council is composed of government ministers from the EU MS
Council chaired by a minister from the MS holding the rotating presidency of the Council, which changes every 6 months.
J11 - What are the council’s roles and responsibilities ?
Legislative Role - OLP
Policy Coordination - a forum for coordinating the policies of EU MS
Budgetary Authority - with the EP
J12 - What is COREPER ?
Key preparatory body of the Council, responsible for assisting the Council in its work by preparing the agenda for Council meetings, conducting négociations on behalf of the MS, and ensuring the consistency and coherence of the Council’s decisions.
Coreper I : less sensitive area & internal EU policies and legislative matters eg transport or environment
Coreper II : higher level political or economic issues related to foreign affairs, security, defense, external relations
J13 - What is the European Council ? How is it structured ?
Defines the EU’s overall political directions and priorities and sets the EU’s policy agenda in both the short term and the long term.
Heads of state or government of the EU MS, along w President of the Council and President of the Commission
HR also participes in meetings
President elected for 2.5 years, renewable once, now Charles Michel (fucking Belgian)
J15 - What are the roles and responsibilities of the European Council ?
Setting the EU’s Political Agenda, coordinates the policies of the EU MS and ensures consistency in their actions
J16 - What does a demoi-cratist think about the election of Ursula Von Der Leyen in 2019 as President of the Commission ?
Contrary to the parliamentarization theory, demoi-cracy assumes that there are two sources of sovereignty in the EU :
=> the MS and the citizens
MS represented by European Council; citizens represented by EP
==> election of VDL was democratic since it was in accordance to the law of the treaties, and it was based on a decision taken by the two organs that represent the legitimacy of the EU.
J17 - What are the roles and responsibilities of the European Commission ?
- To represent the EU abroad
- Right of legislative initiative
- Monitor the implementation of EU laws
- improve acts and/or delegating legislation
- mediating btw EP and Council
J20 - How does the EU officially make legislation ? Explain
OLP
- proposal
- evaluation by Council and EP
- Early Warning Systems with National Governments (yellow card)
- first reading, early second reading, second reading, third reading
J21 - What are the different modes of governance in the EU
EU competences
- Exclusive
- shared
- supporting
- policy coordination
J22 - What are the different ways in which the Council votes ?
1) By Unanimity - amendments to the EU treaties, decisions on the EU’s budget, and certain aspects of foreign and security policy
2) QMV (55% of MS, representing at least 65% of the total EU population) - also called double majority - most legislative decisions, including those related to the single market, environmental policy, justice and home affairs…
3) Consensus
J23 - What are the different ways in which the EP votes ?
1) Simple Majority - more than half of the MEPs present and voting support the proposal. Absentions are not counted in determining the majority
2) Qualified Majority - certain decisions, such as the election of the President of the European Commission, require a qualified majority. => the proposal must be supported by at least 376 out of 751 MEPs (representing at least 50% of all MEPs) to be approved
3) Two-thirds Majority - some decisions, such as amending the EU treaties or impeaching a member of the European Commission, require a two-thirds of the votes cast
Internal Challenges
Internal
- democratic deficit
- rising Euroskepticism
- Brexit
- financial/euro crisis
- deteriorating democratic standards in some MS
- COVID-19 pandemic
External Challenges
External
- tensions w Russia (Ukraine war)
- changing relations with the US and NATO
- challenging situation in regard to US/China rivalry
- migration pressures
- climate emergency
Multiplicity of actors : name the 7 formal institutions
EP, Council of the EU, European Council, European Commission, ECB, Court of justice, Court of Auditors
Lisbon revision procedure
Revision Procedure
1. Ordinary Revision Procedure = commission proposal ➡️ IGC ➡️ revision
2. Simplified Revision Procedure = making it easier, used in extremely limited circumstances, changes to treaty can be made by unanimity in EP (eg case used to include a mention to Stability Mechanism by altering art 136)
Politics vs Polity vs Policy
Politics = process by which a group of people determines who gets what, when and how
Polity = specific form of government of a social organization; a politically organized unit. Institutional framework in which politics and policy are made
Policy = action or inaction by public authorities facing choices btw alternative courses of action
Permissive Consensus vs constraining dissensus
Permissive consensus = automatic agreement with the legislation, Monnet method, as long as it works you consent to not be involved
=> (focus on output)
Constraining dissensus = not automatic agreement, citizens can participate now and actually be critical/skeptical, decision-makers have to take into account public opinion now
=> (focus on output and input)
4 scenarios on the future of Europe
1) Disintegration = argumentation or collapse of system
2) Piecemeal adjustment = small steps instead of complete cooperation
3) Functional federalism = closer integration in specific sectors
4) European sovereignty = path towards federation of nation-states
4 foundational narratives (De Vries)
1) EU as a peace project
2) EU is forged in crisis
3) Deeper economic interdependence fosters political change
4) Law can replace power politics in the EU
(See Google doc for +)
3 different eurosceptic approaches to Brexit
1) Utilitarians, cost bénéfice analysis = winner vs loser globalization
2) Identity = nation identity > european identity
3) Cue taking = voice national frustrations, vote underline national problems
Standards for assessing democratic quality of the EU
1) Input = by the people, people involved in decision making
2) Output = for the people, outcome of an institution gives legitimacy to it
3) Throughput = with & how, legitimacy given by what happens inside
Institutional pov = transparency focus
Constructive pov = discussion, collaboration
When was Charter of Fundamental rights created ?
Created under Treaty of Nice (2001-3), made binding by Lisbon (2007-9)
5 things that affect public opinion
1) Political economy and rationality (cost-bénéfice)
Egocentric utilitarian= individual cost bénéfice
Socio tropic utilitarian = nationwide cost bénéfice
2) Domestic proxies and attitudes to the national government
3) Influence of political elites/mass public
Bottom up vs Top down
4) Political psychology (cognitive mobilization and identity)
5) Media Effect
