EU

Question 1

what is the EU

Answer 1

the EU is a political and economic union of 28 countries based on the free movement of people

Question 2

what are the four freedoms

Answer 2

free movement of goods
free movement of capital
free movement of workers
freedom to provide and establish services

Question 3

what is the social chapter

Answer 3

30 principles including rules abour working hours, working conditions, employee payment

Question 4

how does the EU make policy

Answer 4

treaties, rulings of the ECJ, directives and regulations

Question 5

what are treaties

Answer 5

binding agreements between EU member states, which set out EU instituions rules, relationships and objectives of the EU

e.g 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam

Question 6

what are the aims of the EU (4)

Answer 6

to promote peace
To establish economics integration
To establish monetary union (common currency)
To enlarge and expand as a union

Question 7

Why does the EU want to promote peace, and how can this be evidenced

Answer 7

To prevent likelihood of war and conflict
No war since WW2 after establishment of the EU

Question 8

How has the eu established economic integration

Answer 8

Abolishing customs controls and removal of tariffs

Question 9

How might there not be complete economic integration in the EU

Answer 9

Some temporary boarder restrictions as a result of a rise in refugees

Question 10

How did the EU achieve monetary union

Answer 10

The creation of a common currency € and a European central bank

Question 11

Negatives of monetary union of the EU

Answer 11

During 2008 financial crisis Greece had to be bailed out due to weak economy and had to sign even tighter controls

Question 12

Biggest expansion of EU?

Answer 12

In 2004 when 10 new members were added, mostly Soviet Union states
Now the most United and prosperous trade bloc

Question 13

What might be a reason for UK leaving EU (opposite of expansion)

Answer 13

Increasing demand for jobs from migration from Eastern Europe

Question 14

What do the European Commission do

Answer 14

Propose and enforce eu law
Prepares the eu budget

Question 15

What does the European council do

Answer 15

Takes strategic decisions like admitting new members

Question 16

Who sits in the European council

Answer 16

Heads of member states

Question 17

Who sits in the Council of the EU

Answer 17

Ministers of the member states

Question 18

Role of the council of the eu

Answer 18

Discuss policy areas
Work with European Parliament on legislation

Question 19

Role of the European Parliament

Answer 19

Influence on the budget
Accepts appointments to the European commusion

Question 20

Role of the ECJ

Answer 20

Enforce EU law
Resolve disputes between states

Question 21

Membership impact on politics ; constitution

Answer 21

EU law took precedent over UK law when followed eauropean communities act 1972
challenged principle of parliamentary sovereignty

Question 22

membership impact ; leadership

Answer 22

cameron suggested referendum then resignation subsequently
may had to have brexiteers in her cabinet
three reisgnations of main party leaders following 2016 referendume

Question 23

membership impact ; institution

Answer 23

creation of new government deprtments e.g Department for exitinf the EU
increased workload for ministers

Question 24

European Community Act 1972

Answer 24

had primacy where nation law conflicts this undermines parliamentary sovereignty
but parliament has ultimate power to repeal the act

Question 25

factor tame case

Answer 25

spanish fisheries prosecuted under uk law as non-britis boats were registering as british to qualify the quota for Common Fisheries
HoL following ECJ ruling decidede this law should be disapplied as it conflicted EU law
the prosecution was overturned
EU shows primacy Aop

Question 26

impacts of EU law

Answer 26

reduced centralisation - multilevel governence
eurosceptics believe loss of sovereignty
pro europenas argue membership=pooled sovereignty as uk have effective influence and power
EU Act 2011 intorduced referendum lock so all fuiture treaty transferring powers from uk to eu must be put to binding referendum
2016 lock was not used

Question 27

will BREXIT restore sovereignty - no

Answer 27

Dec 2020 EU and UK agreed on trade deals, nuclear co operation and scrutiny
pooled sovereignty and influence the UK had on EU is gone
renewed calls for independence and challenges to sovereignty from devolved assemblies e.g. Northern Ireland has own relationship/deals with single market
as a result of globalisation the extent which any state can act alone is limited

Question 28

will BREXIT restore sovereignty - yes

Answer 28

uk no longer has another authority figure able to strike down statute law
key policy areas returned to the jurisdiction of uk parliament e.g. agriculture

Question 29

how well have the four freedoms been achieved

Answer 29

seamless movement of goods and services
free movement of citizens
schengen area 1995 abolished boarder controls - the uk and NI negotiated opt outs
arising eurosceptism - contevrsy over poorer Eastern Europeans moving to richer western

Question 30

how is economic union an aim of the EU

Answer 30

the creation of the eurozone including an ECB which sets interest rates and a single currency
helped facilitate cross boarder trade and travel by eliminating uncertainty through fluctuating exchange rates

Question 31

to what extent has economic unity been achieved

Answer 31

the euro introduced as trading currency in 1999
by 2014 19 states became members of the eurozone
many countries during the 2008 financial crisis some eurozone members encountered difficulties so were bailed out by EU funds
during COVID their were tensions between states over the pandemic emergency purchase programme in which the ECB lent over €1,350 billion