EU Enlargement Flashcards
Define ‘Intergovernmentalism’
The principle that policy-decisions should be taken on the basis of debate in which national interests are considered and accommodated.
Define ‘Subsidiarity’
It is the principle that policy-decisions should be taken as close to those affected by the decisions as possible
EU as a federal super states
• Supranationalism
Supranationalism, and therefore federalism, has been extended in recent years, with the extension of QMV and the reduction of the veto
EU as a federal super states
• The ECJ
The ECJ is a supranational institution with the power to overrule national courts and with an expanding role, including into home affairs
EU as a federal super states
• The Lisbon Treaty
The Lisbon Treaty moved more decisions away from national governments, changing the role and powers of key institutions
EU as a federal super states
• features within the EU
1) Has its own currency
2) Has a president
3) Has a constitution - Lisbon
4) Has a foreign secretary - HRFA
EU as a federal super states
• Subsidiarity
The principle of ‘subsidiarity’ is akin to federalism, institutionalising the taking decisions at different levels of government
EU as a federal super staes
• Sharing sovereignty
The EU has moved towards its own brand of Euro-federalism, where member states share sovereignty with supranational organisations, which cold be seen as similar to the US model
The EU is not a federal super state
• Intergovernmentalism
The institutions of the EU are still essentially intergovernmental in nature and attempts to make the EU more federal have failed, e.g. aspects of the Constitution Treaty
The EU is not a federal super state
• Defence
There are still a number of gaps in EU control of areas traditionally run by states, such as tax harmonisation, criminal law, defence and much of foreign policy
The EU is not a federal super state
• The Euro
The euro has not fully integrated the economies of Europe as note all member states have joined the Eurozone, whilst the zone itself saw a lack of supranational direction in response to the Euro-crisis
The EU is not a federal super state
• Enlargement
Enlargement has prevented the EU from becoming federal as reforms have focused on how to make decision making smoother
The EU is not a federal super state
• Lack of consensus
There remains a lack of consensus on the European social model versus the free market model, inhibiting the feasibility of greater supranationalism.
What does intergovernmentalism imply?
It implies that national governments should be able to veto proposals that they see as threatening their vital national interests.
Why does intergovernmental is seen as a hinderance
It forces all EU member states to progress at the pace of the EU’s most reluctant members
What is the benefits of two speed Europe
It would release some members from the constraints of intergovernmental decision-making.
What was subsidiarity designed for?
It was originally designed to guarantee regional autonomy and to limit the EU’s ability to intervene and further encroach on national sovereignty
Policy under subsidiarity
Policy should only be made at EU level if local or national governments are less able to achieve goals of the policy
Impact of subsidiarity on integration
• Too easy to make a case
It is too easy to make the case for almost all policy areas being addressed most effectively at EU level rather than at the lowest level, pointing to the increasing number of policy areas introduced to EU control by recent treaties, such as social policy, CFSP, and the environment
Impact of subsidiarity on integration
• Excuse to limit further integration
Subsidiarity is being used as an excuse to limit further integration, by potentially allowing national parliaments to decide whether EU legislation complies with the principle of subsidiarity, under the Lisbon Treaty
Impact of subsidiarity on integration
• To retain national control
Used as an excuse to retain national control in areas which might be best dealt with at EU level, such as defence, foreign affairs and the environment
Impact of subsidiarity on integration
• Additional bodies
Subsidiarity prevents further integration by creating additional bodies to deal with locally or regionally decided policy issues, such as the Committee for the Regions.
Federalism can be seen in:
• EU Law
EU law takes precedence over national law, and this can be enforced by the ECJ, meaning that national parliaments are no longer sovereign.
Federalism can be seen in:
• The Commission
EU laws are proposed by the Commission which is a supranational and unelected body with no direct accountability to member states
Federalism can be seen in:
• HRFA
The President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs could be characterised as the beginnings of a centralised executive for the EU
Federalism can be seen in:
• Common currency
Much of the EU shares a common currency, with a loss of economic sovereignty as members no longer control their interest rates or much of their fiscal policy, and are subject to enforced conditions from the centre in exchange for financial aid.
Federalism can be seen in:
• The Schengen agreement
The Schengen agreement has removed countries’ sovereignty over national borders, reducing them to states with limited territorial integrity or control of immigration
Federalism can be seen in:
• QMV
The use of Qualified Majority Voting means that member states can be outvoted in key areas, without being able to block decisions that they disagree with, such as CAP, unless they are able to negotiate an opt-out
Ever closer union and the legal base
‘Ever closer union between the peoples of Europe’ does not comprise a legal base to extend the scope of the measures contained in the treaties and the Union’s secondary law
What is the Schengen Information System
It enables police forces across Europe to share data on law enforcement.
Sovereignty and resettlement scheme regarding the migrant crisis
EU ministers approved the resettlement scheme by majority vote rather than unanimous approval
What is the resettlement scheme regarding migrant crisis
The deal will see thousands of migrants moved from Italy and Greece to other EU countries
What is the financial penalty for country refusing migrants
Financial penalty of 0.002% of GDP for those member countries refusing to accept relocated migrants
