ETVT EU has been a success for its member states Flashcards
structure
- economy
- geopolitics/security
- structural influence
LOA
yes greater structural influence
- for economy
EU’s Economic Success 💸
The EU’s single market, representing over 15% of global GDP, provides economic opportunities and allows member states to benefit from favourable trade deals.
Acting as a unified bloc, the EU negotiates on behalf of its 27 members, offering greater leverage in securing trade agreements that smaller or medium-sized states would struggle to achieve alone.
Trade Agreements 🌍
EU-Canada CETA: Eliminated tariffs on 98% of goods traded between the two regions, benefiting EU exporters and reducing business costs.
EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement: Increased EU exports to South Korea by 76%, benefitting countries with strong export sectors (e.g., Germany in machinery and Ireland in pharmaceuticals).
Job Creation & Economic Growth 📈
Over 36 million jobs in the EU are directly dependent on exports to non-EU countries.
Portugal and Czech Republic benefit from export markets, providing crucial economic opportunities, illustrating how the EU’s trade deals support diverse economies.
Customs Union Benefits 🛒
The customs union eliminates internal tariffs, providing seamless access to a market of over 450 million consumers.
Poland’s GDP per capita has risen from around €5,000 (2004) to over €20,000 in 2024, thanks to access to the single market, boosting Poland’s manufacturing and industrial sectors and contributing to its rapid economic growth.
- against
The EU’s supranational structure limits member states’ ability to protect their own economies 🌍💼, subjecting them to EU-wide policies and trade agreements 📊🤝.
By pooling authority over trade and competition policies ⚖️, member states sacrifice some economic sovereignty (e.g., tariffs, subsidies) 💸.
EU competition law prohibits state aid to industries without prior European Commission approval 🚫🏭 (e.g., Italy’s automotive and steel industries).
The EU’s economic benefits are unevenly distributed, often favouring wealthier states like Germany 🇩🇪 and the Netherlands 🇳🇱, which benefit from the single market and customs union 🛒💶.
Poorer member states, especially in Southern and Eastern Europe 🌍, struggle to compete within the single market (e.g., Greece 🇬🇷 and Spain 🇪🇸 had unemployment rates of 12.6% and 13.3% in 2022, compared to the EU average of 6% 📉).
The eurozone crisis exposed structural flaws in the euro 💥💶, worsening the situation for economically weaker countries (e.g., Greece, Spain, and Portugal faced austerity measures 💳 and economic hardship 💔).
Greece’s GDP fell by 25% 📉, and youth unemployment exceeded 50% during the crisis 💼🔴, while wealthier nations like Germany 🇩🇪 emerged largely unscathed
- for geopolitics
The EU enhances member states’ geopolitical influence by positioning itself as a global leader in democracy, human rights, and sustainable development 🌍⚖️.
The EU and its member states collectively provide over 50% of global development aid 💶🌍, approximately €80 billion annually, to support economic development, poverty alleviation, and governance reforms, especially in Africa, the Middle East, and the EU’s eastern neighbourhood.
Through the European Development Fund (EDF), the EU has supported Sub-Saharan Africa with billions of euros to improve education, healthcare, and infrastructure 📚🏥🏗️, often linking aid to human rights and governance commitments.
The EU is a global champion of liberal values (democracy, human rights) 💪🌏, gaining influence, particularly as the US under a potential second Trump presidency might retreat from these efforts.
Example: After the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster, the EU pushed for labour reforms in Bangladesh by threatening to revoke preferential trade access if safety standards weren’t improved 🏭✊. This led to the creation of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety, improving factory conditions and worker safety.
The EU is coordinating foreign and security policies to improve member states’ security 🛡️, with France leading the charge for a more independent geopolitical strategy 🇫🇷.
The EU’s response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine included sanctions and military aid to Ukraine 💥🇷🇺🇺🇦, boosting Ukraine’s chances in the conflict and showcasing the EU’s collective geopolitical and military power.
- against geopol
The EU struggles to compete with the US 🇺🇸 and China 🇨🇳, lacking independent military strength 🛡️ and relying on NATO for global influence and security.
Example: In the 1990s, during the Bosnia and Kosovo wars, the EU couldn’t mobilise a unified response, and NATO (US-led) intervened 🇺🇸💥. operation deliberate force and operational allied force
In the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU imposed sanctions and provided aid but depended on NATO for deterrence and defence 🇷🇺💣.
The EU faces internal divisions on foreign policy, as member states have diverse priorities 🌍, leading to disagreements on global issues (e.g., Iraq War, US-China rivalry).
Example: During the Iraq War(war on terror), the UK 🇬🇧 and Poland 🇵🇱 supported the US, while France 🇫🇷 and Germany 🇩🇪 opposed it.
The EU’s lack of hard power and indecision leaves member states overlooked in strategic decisions like Asia-Pacific security 🌏.
(France and Germany have expressed concerns about becoming overly dependent on
the US, with French President Macron calling for “strategic autonomy.
” However,
Eastern European countries, particularly those bordering Russia, generally support
closer alignment with the US, fearing Russian aggression.
This indecision and the EU’s lack of hard power have led to its member states being
overlooked in key strategic decisions and alliances, such as in Asia-Pacific security
arrangements.)
- for structural influence
The EU is a “regulatory superpower,” using its size as the world’s largest single market to set global standards in trade, environmental protection, consumer safety, and data privacy 🌍💼.
The “Brussels Effect” occurs when multinational companies and countries adopt EU regulations to access its market of 450+ million consumers 🌐📊.
Example: The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) set an international standard for data privacy, influencing countries like Japan 🇯🇵, Brazil 🇧🇷, and South Korea 🇰🇷.
The EU plays a key role in the World Trade Organization (WTO), using its collective weight to push for fair trade practices (e.g., banning hormone-treated beef 🐄💥).
Without the EU, member states would have limited influence over global trade rules 🌏⚖️.
The EU also shapes global policy through participation in major IGOs like the G7, G20, IMF, and WHO, influencing financial stability, health, and climate action 🌱🌍.
Example: The EU shaped the Paris Climate Accord 🌍🌡️, pushing for binding commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C, despite the US withdrawal under Trump.
- against structural
he EU’s “ever closer union” and deeper integration have led to the erosion of member states’ sovereignty 🌍⚖️, with supranational institutions like the European Commission and ECB gaining more power.
Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) reduces veto power, forcing member states to accept decisions they may disagree with 🗳️❌.
QMV requires 55% of member states to agree, representing at least 65% of the EU population 💬🗣️.
Areas like immigration, trade, and climate policy are increasingly decided by QMV, limiting individual states’ control (e.g., the Lisbon Treaty expanded QMV to 40+ areas) 🔒.
Example: In 2015, QMV approved mandatory migrant relocation quotas, forcing countries like Hungary 🇭🇺, Poland 🇵🇱, and the Czech Republic 🇨🇿 to accept refugees despite opposition 🏘️.
In 2020, Poland 🇵🇱 was overruled under QMV when the EU set ambitious climate targets, requiring a 55% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 🌍🌱.
What was the EU’s response to the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s?
The EU was unable to mobilise a unified military response to prevent violence.
NATO, led by US forces, intervened with operations like Operation Deliberate Force and Operation Allied Force.
How did the EU respond to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine?
The EU imposed sanctions, provided economic and humanitarian aid, but remained dependent on NATO for defence and deterrence against Russia.
This highlights the EU’s reliance on NATO for security.
What is the significance of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?
It set an international standard for data privacy, influencing countries like Japan, Brazil, and South Korea to adopt similar laws.
GDPR is considered a benchmark for data protection worldwide.
What role did the EU play in the WTO regarding hormone-treated beef?
The EU led efforts to ban hormone-treated beef, advocating for stricter food safety standards that influenced global agricultural practices.
This showcases the EU’s influence in international trade standards.
What critical role did the EU play in the Paris Climate Accord?
The EU pushed for binding commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
This was significant despite the US withdrawal under Trump.
What was the internal disagreement within the EU during the Iraq War?
The UK and Poland supported the US-led invasion, while Germany and France opposed it.
This illustrates the EU’s internal divisions on foreign policy.
What was the EU’s action regarding mandatory migrant relocation quotas in 2015?
The EU approved mandatory migrant relocation quotas under QMV, forcing countries like Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic to accept refugees despite opposition.
This reflects the EU’s limited sovereignty over member states.
What happened with Poland’s climate targets in 2020?
Poland was overruled by the EU under QMV when it set ambitious climate targets, mandating a 55% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
This occurred despite Poland’s concerns about its coal-dependent economy.
What is the ‘Brussels Effect’?
The EU sets global standards through the ‘Brussels Effect’, influencing environmental and consumer protection regulations.
This effect allows countries and companies to adapt to EU regulations to access its large market.
