History Flashcards
Date of accession of Croatia
2013
(Euro introduced in 2023)
Feb 2001
Treaty of Nice
Signed: 26 February 2001
Into force: 1 February 2003
aims to reform the institutions to the EU can function efficiently after reaching 25 MS and prepare for next accessions
with the Treaty of Nice, Parliament’s legisl and supervisory powers are increased; Qualified majority voting extended to more areas within the Council
May 2004
10 new countries
CY, CZ, EE, HU, LV, LT, MT, PL, SI, SK
When did BG&RO join the EU?
Jan 2007
January 2002
Euro notes and coins launch in 12 countries
(Greece joined the euro zone in 2001 and more follow after 2002)
29 May - 1 June 2005
EU constitution
Voters in FR and NL reject the Treaty establishing a constitution of Europe, which was signed by 25 EU MS in Oct 2004
Dec 2007
Lisbon Treaty (signed by 27 MS)
amends previous treaties; designed to make the EU more democratic, efficient and transparent;
Into effect: Dec 2009
2008
Global economic crisis - leading to closer economic cooperation
2000 Nice
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Signed: at Nice EC, Dec 2000; slightly modified on Dec 2007
Into Force: As part of Treaty of Lisbon (previously part of the unsuccessful Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe), becomes legally binding once the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force
Laeken Declaration
at the end of 2001
European Council Declaration on the future of the European Union
Lisbon Treaty as Constitutional project
Which MS voted against the constitution and when?
two negative referenda on the Constitutional Treaty NL FR May and June 2005
Who chaired the Convention on the Future of Europe? What & when was it?
2002 chaired by Valery Giscard d’Estaing
following 2001 Laeken Declaration; in total 105 members (15 MS represent., 30 national Parl., 16 - EP, 2 - EC, applic. countries)
Aim: bring together main parties concerned for debate ON THE FUTURE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION:
1) Division of comp
2) Simplification EU instruments
3) Increased democracy, transparency, efficiency
4) Drafting of constitution
During 1st half 2003 - draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
rejected by France (May 2005) and Netherlands (1 June 2005) in national referendums
When was the Schengen Agreement? Who did initially sign it? When did implementation start?
in 1985; signed by 5: BE, DE, FR, LU, NL
Implementation from 1995
Schuman declaration
9 May 1950, (fifth victory day after WWII)
Institutions of the ECSC
High authority (predecessor of the European Commission), first president: Jean Monnet
Common Assembly (predecessor of the EP) first president: Paul-Henri Spaak
Rey Commission
First “merged commission” after the merger treaty. Based on former three executives: 1) commission of EEC, 2) Commission of Euratom and 3) high authority of ECSC
First president: Jean Rey
Held office from 1967 to 1970
Hallstein Commission
First executive of the EEC was called “Commission” and presided by Walter Hallstein
Delors commission
Names after the commission president Jacques Delors, president for three terms from 1985 - 1995 (last term lasted a year)
Longest president in office, important for European integration, Maastricht treaty
Copenhagen criteria
Define, whether a country can join the union:
- political criteria: stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;
- economic criteria: a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competition and market forces;
- administrative and institutional capacity to effectively implement the acquis and ability to take on the obligations of membership.
When does the EU receive the Nobel prize?
2012
EU receives the Nobel peace Price for
“contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe”
Treaty of Paris
- Signed 1951 (18 April), entered into force 1952 (23 July)- Established the ECSC
- European Parliamentary Assembly (members selected by national parliaments) & High Authority (precursor of EC); Assembly had the right to dismiss the High Authority
- expiration 2002 (23 July)
Treaty of Rome
- Signed 25 March 1957; entered into force 1958
- created the EEC and EURATOM
- established the Commission
- institutions: Commission, Council of ministers, Parliamentary Assembly, Court of Justice (& EESC)
- EIB
- creates common market based on free movement of goods, people, services, capital: MS to gradually align economic policies
- “ever-closer union”
- abolished quotas and customs tariffs & established common external tariff (customs union+common trade policy)
- other areas covered: CAP, transport policy
Altiero Spinelli
- co-author of Ventotene Manifesto (1941): one of first documents to argue for a united Europe and a European constitution; he wrote it while imprisoned by the fascists in Italy
- After 2nd world war he creates the Federalist Movement in Italy
- Member of EC 1970-1976
- Member of EP 1979-1986
- 1980 as MEP founded the “Crocodile Club” whose members tables proposal for a new treaty, which was adopted by EP in 1984: the “Spinelli Plan” (“Draft Treaty establishing the EU”)- rejected by national parliaments but still provided basis for SEA
Robert Schuman
- Born German citizen in Luxembourg, became French when Alsace-Lorraine region was returned to France in 1919
- was French MP
- Schuman Plan and Schuman Declaration in 1950 (together with Jean Monnet): proposed joint control of coal and steel production (to prevent countries from building up armies)
- “Europe will not be made all at once, or accortto a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which firsr create a de facto solidarity.”
- first President of Parliamentary Assembly in EEC
Jean Monnet
- Deputy SG of League of Nations in 1919
- Member of French Government in 1943
- Monnet Plan: “There will be no peace in Europe if states are reconstituted on the basis of national sovereignty. The European States must constitute themselves into a Federation.”
- co-worked on Schuman Declaration
- first “High Authority” (like EC President) of ECSC (1952-1955)
EC Presidents serving 2 terms
- Walter Hallstein (58-67)
- Jacques Delors (85-95) (3 terms)
- José Manuel Barroso (04-14)
Paul-Henri Spaak
- Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs during WWII
- helped creating a customs union between BE, NL, LUX: in 1944 Benelux was founded with free movement of persons, goods, services and money; this became inspiration for European integration
- President of First General Assembly of UN (1946)
- SG of NATO (1957-1961)
- chairman of working party which prepared the Treaty of Rome
- first President of Common Assembly of ECSC
- Spaak report in 1956 leading to Treaty of Rome
Winston Churchill
- 1946 speech at University of Zurich: advocated a “United States of Europe”, “European Family”
Walter Hallstein
- Head of German Delegation at Schuman Conference which established ECSC
- first President of EC (58-67) in EEC
- his proposal to increase institution’s budget let to the crisis of the empty chair
Messina Conference
- 1955, assessed ECSC and proposed further integration, which eventually led to Treaty of Rome (creation of EEC and EURATOM)
- attended by Foreign Ministers of the 6 ECSC members (
Antoine Pinay for FR,
Joseph Bech for Lux,
Walter Hallstein for DE,
Paul-Henri Spaak for BE,
Johan Willem Beyen for NL,
Gaetano Martino for IT)
ECSC
- first proposed by Schuman Declaration 1950
- established by Treaty of Paris 1951
- created “High Authority” (9 members) to supervise market, monitor compliance with competition rules and ensure price transparency
- “High Authority” assisted by “Consultative Committee” (forerunner to EESC)
- Common Assembly (78 members) nominated by national parliaments
- Special Council (6 members - national ministers)
- Court of Justice (7judges)
- 1967 Brussels Treaty merged ECSC’s institutions into EEC, but ECSC maintained legal personality until Treaty of Paris expired in 2002
EURATOM
- EURATOM Treaty 1957 (at same time like Treaty establishing EEC) - both together: Treaty of Rome
- general objective: create specialist market for nuclear power
- specific objectives: promoting research and disseminating technical info; setting safety standards; ensure civil nuclear materials are not use for military purposes
- EURATOM still exists: EU and EURATOM share institutional framework, budget and financial provisions, have same members but are legally distinct
- only remaining community organisation outside of EU and outside of regulatory control of EP