Development of the EEC/EU

Question 1

Formation of the EEC

Answer 1

• MOST LIBERAL EXAMPLE - rooted in a desire to challenge nationalism which devastated Europe.
• 1951 = the Schuman Declaration established the European Coal and Steel Community - linking Germ/French industrial production to reduce risk of war between them.
• Involved treaties like Rome (1957) and Maastricht (1992) to speed up Europe integration, renaming it to a European Union.

Question 2

The European Commission

Answer 2

• Exclusive govt - each member chooses a commissioner to represents a particular area, proposing legislation to the European Council and the European Parliament that implements laws.
• Represents the EU, not national interests.
• Acts as a watchdog for policy implementation.
• President nominated by the European Council and approved by the European Parliament.

Question 3

The European Council of Ministers (supranational and intergovernmental)

Answer 3

• Shares a legislative role with the European Parliament - decides if to adopt proposals made by the Commission and has to agree to the EU budget.
• President is a country - role rotates every 6 months.
• Each member sends the appropriate ministers to meetings and can represent their national interests. But, some issues still require unanimity, so protecting national sovereignty.
• Although, increasingly decisions are made by qualified majority voting.

Question 4

European Parliament

Answer 4

• The only directly elected body (every 5 years).
• shares equal legislative power with the European Council on most Commission proposals.
• Main function is scrutiny of the EU institution’s work and its consent is required to pass the EU budget.
• Organised by political groups, like Europe of Freedom and Democracy, as opposed to nationality.

Question 5

European Council

Answer 5

• Meets at least four times every year.
• Represents all EU heads of government and it determines the strategic objectives of the EU - focusses on longer-term decisions.
• Since the Lisbon Treaty (2009), it has elected its own President.
• Needs unanimous decisions, so this is the EU’s main intergovernmental institution.

Question 6

European Council of Justice

Answer 6

• The judicial arm - the Court of First Instance handles certain cases brought by individuals or companies.
• Each member sends a judge to the court in Luxembourg.
• Ensures European law is equally enforced on all member states.
• In case of dispute, the ECJ can overrule domestic law since European law takes precedent.

Question 7

European Central Bank

Answer 7

• Controls the monetary policy of its 19 members in the Eurozone (2019)
• Sets Eurozone interest rates and its central purpose is to maintain price stability.

Question 8

Membership

Inner Six (1951)

Name the countries

Answer 8

European Coal and Steel Community - France, Belgium, Italy, West Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - renamed as the European Economic Community in 1957.

Question 9

Membership

First Enlargement (1970s)

Answer 9

Denmark, Ireland and the UK, including Gibraltar (1973)

Question 10

Mediterranean Enlargement (1980s)

Answer 10

Greece (1981), Portugal and Spain (1986).

Question 11

Northern Enlargement (1995)

Answer 11

Austria, Finland and Sweden

Question 12

Post-Communism/Eastern (2000)

Answer 12

Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (2004), Bulgaria and Romania (2007) and Croatia (2013).

Question 13

Name three out of the eight countries recognised candidates for EU membership

Answer 13

• Turkey (since 1999)
• Ukraine (2022)
• Kosovo (whose independence is not recognised by five EU member states)

Question 14

Why are there controversy with the enlargement of EU membership?

Answer 14

• Russia views EU growth as antagonist, given the EU’s borders are similar to NATO and many new eastern European members were former Russian allies or satellite states.
• New members often have weaker economies or cultural differences.
• Issue of effectiveness - harder to form cohesive policies, especially regarding foreign policy.

Question 15

Yes - Turkey should be accepted to the EU

Answer 15

• Would present an image of inclusivity and diversity - prevents the EU from being seen as a ‘Christian Club’.
• Extends the scope of diplomatic relationships, particularly with the middle east.
• Provides the EU with access to key natural resources, particularly energy.
• Prevents Turkey from forming greater ties with Russia.
• EU borders would be more in line with those of NATO - makes sense given the EU and NATO’s defence alliance.

Question 16

No - Turkey should not be accepted to the EU

Answer 16

• Culturally different country to other EU members.
• Poor HR records - direct contradiction to EU values and would impact the EU’s soft power.
• Politically unstable and isn’t seen as overly democratic (contradiction to EU values of lib dem).
• Many worry that Turkey’s connection with the middle east is a concern not an asset, therefore leaving the EU vulnerable to Islamic extremism and further immigration from this region.

Question 17

Treaties

Treaty of Paris (1951)

Answer 17

Created the European Coal and Steel community with supranational institutions - demonstrates that from the beginning, the European project was focused on challenging state sovereignty.

Question 18

Treaty of Rome (1957)

Answer 18

Established the EEC’s guiding principle of ‘ever closer union’ - founding members committed to the removal of tariffs on goods and the adopting of a common external tariff - established supranational institutions like the ECJ and (balanced) the Council.

Question 19

The Single European Act (1986)

Answer 19

• Extended the free market in goods to services, capital and people.
• Increased qualified majority voting in the Council, leading to a more integrated Europe.

Question 20

The Maastricht Treaty (1992)

Answer 20

• Dramatically advanced European integration - changed to European Union.
• Established a common EU membership and set out plans for an economic and monetary union (EMU) and a common foreign and security policy.
• Recognised the principle of subsidiarity whereby the EU should make decisions only if they are not better taken by nations, safeguarding the sovereign independence of its members.

Question 21

The Amsterdam Treaty (1997)

Answer 21

Provided the EU with greater democratic legitimacy by giving more legislative influence to the Parliament. The Schengen principle of passport-free travel was included.

Question 22

The Lisbon Treaty (2007)

Answer 22

• Due to 2004, the aim was to give the EU greater unity and coherence - creating the permanent position of EU Council President and EU High Commissioner for Foreign affairs.
• The EU was given a legal identity to negotiate directly with nations through its own diplomatic service.
• Although qualified majority voting was further extended on the Council, Article 50 provided a mechanism whereby nations can leave the EU.